Festive Care for Pet Dogs
By Poorvaja Kumar*.
Published by the Pet Care Magazine, Creature Companion.
Surrounded with colours and lights, gorging on irresistible sweets, we celebrate festivals with our friends and families. While the size of the festive gathering may vary, the presence of our furry buddy or family pooch during the celebrations is inevitable.
As the year draws to an end, the festive spirit of Navaratri, Dusshera, and Deepawali followed by Christmas, brings with it excitement and joy among humans, but also leads to anxiety and distress in pets. Some of these anxiety inducing situations include:
- Bursting firecrackers that can cause fear, confusion, anxiety and panic in dogs, compelling them to hide in spaces to avoid the noise. The most common symptoms of fear among dogs due to firecrackers include salivation, trembling, shivering, excessive barking and loss of appetite.
- It is highly likely that you are going to have a constant stream of friends and family dropping in during the festive season. Constant encounters with unfamiliar people can be both overwhelming and stressful for your pet.
- I understand that it is very difficult to resist ‘those’ puppy eyes especially when you are feasting on sweets. Havingsaid that, feeding leftovers and sweets to pets may cause severe damage to their health.
- Decorations and lights can be tempting for puppies to play with, but unfortunately they can accidently ingest them.
While these are the key points to watch out for during festivals, there is no need to cancel your plans. Follow these ‘festive pet care tips’ and ensure a safe and joyful season for both you and your furry friend.
Create a safe space: It is important to give your dog a quiet and secure space, especially during festivals. Either crate train or provide a sound proof room for your dog, as a safe resting space. You may even plug-in diffusers and play light music as a part of this exercise. Make sure you start this exercise at least two weeks before the festive season, in order to make it a part of your dog’s daily routine.
Provide ample physical and mental exercise: Dogs need to tire themselves both physically and mentally in order to de-stress and relax. Long walks in the mornings and walks in less noisy and crowded spaces, interspersed with mental activities such as nose work and obedience training, will be highly beneficial for your dog. For example, you can stuff kong toys with food or treats and give them to your dog.
Dog anxiety medication: While many pet parents purchase anxiety drugs for their pets from the pharmacy, I advise you to consult a veterinarian before trying any new medication on your dog.
Ensure a strict meal schedule: Do not feed your dogs any sweets or savouries. You do not want your dog to fall ill, especially during the celebrations.
Do not leave food and decorations unattended: Make sure decorations are properly secured and lamps and candles are out of the reach of curious doggies. Kindly do not leave your pet in a room with food whilst you are not around.
Happy Festivities to all pets and pet parents!
*Poorvaja Kumar is the Founder of Humans of Canines (www.humansofcanines.com), an initiative dedicated to strengthening the human-canine bond. Poorvaja is certified in Canine Training and Dance Movement Therapy, specialising in the area of Animal Assisted Interventions. You can connect with her on Facebook and Instagram @humansofcanines
