Tips for keeping your pets safe on Halloween

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- With Halloween fast approaching, here are some tips on making sure the festivities stay safe and fun for your pets.

Halloween can be a fun time for pet owners, but sometimes it can be stressful for animals. It can also be dangerous if you're not careful, especially when it comes to costumes.

"The kinds of costumes that we worry about are things that are going to be super dangly on them, like if you're dressing your dog up and they're wearing something that's got a bunch of loose feathers," said Tabitha Newman of Best Friends Adoption Center. "They might try and eat the string, and that might cause them to get sick."

Eating hazards are a big worry, and costumes are just the beginning.

Decorations are also a temptation, and of course, some candy like chocolate can cause serious health problems for pets.

"Some people give raisins in their Halloween treats, and raisins can be very toxic to dogs," Newman said. "Additionally, xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener that's in a lot of things, can be very toxic to dogs as well."

When it comes to trick or treating, it may be best to leave pets home and maybe even in a quiet room where they won't be able to run out the door when trick-or-treaters come knocking.

Of course, pet owners know their pets better than anyone, so none of the ideas are set in stone, but it's always good to keep in mind.