With Halloween right around the corner, it’s time to stock up on candy for the surge of trick-or-treaters. Once you’ve covered the candy for the kids, you may wonder how you can treat your senior pet this spooky season. They may have a festive bandana, and you have likely spent extra time snuggling on the couch watching scary movies, but you also want your furry pal to join in the trick-or-treating fun. However, overindulging in sweets is not a possibility for your pet. Not only is all that sugar unhealthy, but chocolate, xylitol, raisins, and candy wrappers can also pose toxic or gastrointestinal threats. So, what’s a pet owner to do on Halloween? Here are four ways to treat your senior pet on October 31 without sharing your kids’ candy haul. 

#1: Bake spooky snacks for your senior pet

Halloween treats are fun to make, whether you are dipping caramel apples or designing cookies that look like body parts. Include your senior pet in the festivities by baking pet-friendly spooky snacks only for them. Here are four simple recipes to get you started:

* Skeleton bone treats

* Peanut butter and pumpkin treats

* Pumpkin and cheese treats

* Gummy bear treats that can be turned into gummy mice for cats

#2: Hand out healthy treats to your senior pet

If you were a kid trick-or-treating, you’d probably skip the house that hands out plain, uncandied apples and small bags of baby carrots. However, your senior pet may love these treats, which are healthy alternatives to commercial products. Fresh fruits and veggies provide an excellent antioxidant boost to help support your aging pet; they’re typically low in fat, sugar, and calories, making them ideal for older pets with a slower metabolism. Healthy treats for your senior pet include:

* Broccoli

* Cauliflower

* Carrots

* Green beans

* Watermelon

* Apples

* Bananas

* Berries

Some senior pets may find crunching raw vegetables difficult, and you may need to cook them until they are soft. Try a lean meat morsel if your senior cat turns up their nose at a green bean. Plain-baked chicken breast or salmon make excellent treats for pets who prefer meat to fruits and veggies. Remember that despite their healthy nature, these treats should be fed only in moderation. 

#3: Turn your senior pet’s prescription diet into a fun treat

Your senior cat or dog may be on a prescription diet to help manage a chronic medical condition, but that doesn’t mean they should miss out on the treat-giving fun. If your pet is on a strict prescription diet, you can still turn their dry or canned food into a tasty treat. If they are allowed additional foods, mix some dry food with low-fat yogurt or cottage cheese, stuff the mixture into a rubber Kong, and freeze overnight for longer-lasting enjoyment. You can also turn canned food into crunchy treats with fun shapes so your pet thinks they have been given a special treat that’s not their regular food. Roll out the canned food into a thin sheet, cut out your shapes with a tiny cookie cutter, and then bake the treats at 350 degrees until crunchy. Depending on the food’s consistency, the treats may take up to 40 minutes to dry. Store the treats in the refrigerator to prevent spoilage.

#4: Choose festive but safe, healthy commercial treats for your senior pet

Pet treat manufacturers create many holiday-themed snacks, but not all are healthy for senior pets. Check the label to ensure the treat does not contain artificial colors, preservatives, or additives, which can upset your pet’s stomach. Additionally, choose treats low in fat and calories since many senior pets struggle with excess weight, and high-fat treats can cause pancreatitis.