Halloween is in just a few days, and you may be planning to dress up your pet as well as your kids. Some dogs and cats like being dressed up and some don’t. Give your pet a break if he doesn’t like it, and stick with costumes for your children.

If you’re determined to include Pal in the festivities, make sure the costume fits properly and isn’t too tight. Too loose can be just as bad, because then your pet might get tangled in the extra fabric, and in struggling to get loose, might be injured. Make sure nothing restricts your pet’s ability to breathe or to see.

Maybe your child wants to take the dog along while trick or treating. If so, an adult should go along, too. It would be all too easy for the leash to get dropped while the child is fumbling with a treat bag and losing a pet is not a fun way to celebrate Halloween.

If you’ll be opening your door to trick-or-treaters all evening, you might consider putting your dog or cat in a closed room for the duration. The doorbell constantly ringing in particular may overly excite dogs, and any animal might get out that open door. If that’s a possibility, play it safe and shut your pet in a bedroom or bathroom until the evening quiets down.

Another thing to watch out for is sharing treats with the dog. Many Halloween goodies are made with chocolate and chocolate contains both theobromine and caffeine, both of which can be fatal to a dog. The darker the chocolate is, the greater the danger. White chocolate, for instance, has almost no theobromine. While a couple of M & M’s or a chocolate sandwich cookie probably won’t do any harm, keep your dog safe and keep the chocolate treats for yourself.

When I was trick-or-treat age I would sometimes get a small box of raisins in my treat bag. If your child gets such a box, keep those raisins for the humans in the family. Both raisins and grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs. No definitive amount has been determined as being harmful, so, while some dogs may have no ill effects, others may suffer irreversible kidney damage. Play it safe and never give either raisins or grapes to your dog.

Still, it’s hard to munch without giving our canine friend a little something. Think ahead and have some healthy snacks for your pet. Carrots are a good example of an excellent year-round treat. Offer small pieces of carrot when you’re having your own snack and your dog will feel included, without eating something that might not be as good for him.

If you have a puppy who is teething, offer a whole carrot. They’re hard enough to offer some relief to itching gums, and will last a while, depending on the size of your puppy. Since some carrots may be dyed orange, make sure you protect carpeting or upholstery, if your dog will be chewing on that type of surface.

Remember, dogs can’t digest raw cellulose, which makes up most plant food, so don’t be surprised to see bits of bright orange carrot in your dog’s stool. It may startle you, but it’s harmless.

Apples are another crunchy treat that most dogs love. I’d rather eat the apple myself, but sometimes I share a bite or two with my dogs so, if you don’t mind sharing your apple, a slice won’t hurt your dog. Or, toss him the core. Apple seeds do contain a cyanide compound, but your dog would have to eat dozens to show any ill effect. Plus, unless your dog chews the seeds, they will pass untouched, and harmless, through his digestive system. If your dog is very small, or it worries you, just remove the seeds before you toss Fido the core.

Remember that apples are likely to have pesticide residue on the skin, so wash the apple thoroughly with soap and water before offering any to your dog.

With both carrots and apples, if you have a very small dog, be careful about the size of the piece you offer him. It’s better to give him a large piece he can gnaw, rather than a small piece that he might try to swallow without chewing. It could choke him.

The next time your dog looks at you with pleading eyes that say, “feed me,” instead of tossing him a bread crust, offer a crunchy fruit or vegetable instead.