Holi 2019: How to ensure a pawsome time for your furry friends
Happy Holi 2019: Pets, unlike humans, are more susceptible to damage, allergies and more, when it comes to colours. That is where the need of special care comes in, and it isn’t that tedious a job, too.
Pets are family. And, when you are celebrating a festival as joyous as Holi, why wouldn’t you want everyone to join in on the fun. But what must be kept in mind is that pets, unlike humans, are more susceptible to damage, allergies and more, when it comes to colours. That is where the need of special care comes in, and it isn’t that tedious a job, too. Just follow these simple pointers, and your pet would be able to enjoy the day as much as you.
Colours are a big no: You might love smearing colours all over yourself and your friends. But, avoid your pets being smeared with colour. You might enjoy it a lot, but dry colours often contain lead which is poisonous to most pets. Smearing colours on them could cause irritation, nasal infections, respiratory issues and skin allergies. Furthermore, dogs and cats often lick themselves and could end up licking colours off their fur which could cause sickness. Water balloons and water gun are equally bad as the pressure or impact could hurt the pets. “There are a lot of organic options available in the market for colours now, but we need to understand that it could still lead to respiratory issues and infections. Pets do not like foreign elements on their body and using colours would only make them uncomfortable. Parents should take extra care with children around pets as they often do not understand that they are making the pet uncomfortable,” says Shweta Rohilla of DoggoDuty, a pet collective.
Holi Kit: Pets are curious beings and will often try to smell or chew on things. Chewing a water balloon or smelling colours could also cause complications for the pet. Make sure you place the paraphernalia out of reach and use a muzzle or a leash to keep the pet safe.
Choose pet treats for Holi sweets: Gujiyas are yum, and you’d want to share them with your pet too. But, you should know that you’d only be doing them harm with all that sugar and oil. “Sugar is a big no-no for your pets and thus we use raw honey instead to cater to your pet’s sweet tooth. We have Doggie Gujiya (made of whole wheat flour, chicken stock, minced chicken, organic peanut butter and cinnamon raw honey) and Doggie Ladoos (made of besan, sesame seeds and raw honey) that one can choose for their pets this Holi,” says Rashi Narang of Heads Up for Tails.
Holi Aftercare: In the off chance that your pet does end up covered in colour (despite your best attempts), give them a good bath and trim the fur which has excessive colour on it. In case your pet swallows something or gets colour in his eyes, consult a vet immediately and seek treatment. Do not use kerosene or any other product for removing the colour like you would your own, and only use pet safe shampoos for bathing them.