Celebrate a pet-friendly Diwali

Diwali is around the corner, and while everyone is planning on how to celebrate the day with a bash, do not forget your furry friends. Pets do not enjoy the noise, colours or lights of Diwali. So here are some tips to keep your pets safe during the celebrations.

For your dogs:

The noise pollution due to crackers can be very harmful to the pet’s health, so purchase earmuffs or cover their ears with a soft cloth. Do not forget to shut doors and windows. Also, keep the curtains drawn when the fireworks start. Do not let your dogs move out of the house. Always be attentive about their presence. It is common to see the dog running into the house to hide under the sofa or bed when listen to crackers’ noise. Do not force them to come out. Dogs are always curious, so never keep any cracker or its packet in front of them, as they are likely to sniff or lick it. When preparing the first aid kit, do not forget to include the pet;s anxiety medicines in it. Make sure to sit by the pet’s side and caress it to calm it down from time to time. Don’t forget to throw away remnants of burst crackers from the premises.

For the strays:

When it comes to street dogs, always try not to scare them. Try and stop others from your locality, if they are trying to throw crackers at street dogs. If possible, provide them with food and keep water for them outside your home. It would also be a great gesture if you could give them a temporary shelter in your garage or basement. Keep your veterinarian’s emergency contact ready in case of emergency. Also keep contact details of pets rescue groups and animal shelters near you.

For your cats:

When it comes to feline pets, they have a tendency to run away in the presence of unpleasant sound, light or colours. Make sure to tie a kitty collar with your name, address and contact number, in case your feline friend decides to run away.