Your pet may be allergic to holi colours, here\'s how to protect them
New Delhi: If you get hit by water balloons or splashed with colours while strolling in your garden, you know 'Holi' is around the corner! Family and friends from children to grown-up alike might be super excited to throw colours on each other and to munch on mouthwatering treats that are associated with Holi.
However, before going all out to celebrate the fun festival, do not forget your four-legged companions!
Stray dogs and cats are vulnerable to being hit by water balloons and smeared in colours.
Aharien Joy, pet owner of 'Rambo', a one-year-old Golden retriever emphasises on keeping your four-legged companions safe during festival time.
Joy said, during Holi in 2016 some unknown people splashed colours on his dog as he had taken him for a walk in the evening. splashing colours on animals, especially chemical colours are dangerous for all pets.
He also added how apart from cases of skin allergies and skin rashes...these colours can also injure their eyes and cause them to become blind.
The harsh use of any chemical colour can cause pets to suffer from:
Blindness
The dyes and colours filled in the water balloons can be detrimental to their eyes and can even lead to permanent loss of eyesight.
Skin allergies
This is the most common and immediate reaction that we see in our four-legged companions when they get hit by the colours. what it seems like a minor skin rash can have an adverse effect in the longer run.
Respiratory disorders
When the face is stuffed with a whole lot of colours, difficulty in breathing is a common case even in human beings. you can now imagine how much this can affect our four-legged companion having a weak defence mechanism. These powders in bulk can lead to lungs and respiratory diseases.
Psychological issues
A factor that is not given utmost importance when we consider our four-legged companions, is their mental and psychological state. An uncalled sudden splash of water, colour or balloons, can give them a sudden shock. This can bring trouble to their mental state.
In a bid to work for a cause, a student-run social entrepreneurial organization Enactus Motilal Nehru College does their best for the welfare of native bred dogs
Some of the measures suggested by them that even we can take towards keeping our pets safe include:
- creating awareness among laymen through posters in and around neighbourhood or through social media platforms.
- Educating children about the harmful effects on dogs will make them refrain from throwing colours on them.
- Watch for symptoms like loose stools, behavioural change, vomiting, excessive drools. If identified, take them to the nearest vet as soon as possible.
Most importantly taking a stand for the vulnerable stray dogs, if you see any stray being teased with colours for fun, offer help to the dog. and also any sight of stray dog suffering or in colour, call any Animal Welfare NGO immediately
Hence, this festival lets celebrate with joy keeping in mind the safety and comfort of our little paw-some companions.
