Depending on who will be coming to your barbeque, just be open with your guests and let them know your pup cannot have food. This is especially the case with bones, grapes (which are toxic to dogs), and chocolate. Keep hot dogs out of your dog's reach as well as a fire and fireworks. Your pooch's safety is of the utmost importance, which is why the tips below should become your doggy bible!
Toss in longer evenings, adult beverages, houseguests (who may or may not be familiar with dogs) sun soaked to exhaustion and good food, and you have a recipe for accidents to happen.
1. Store cooked bones in a pet proof container. This will keep all the dogs safe from accidentally swallowing whole cooked bones or having a bone splinter in the digestive tract or throat.
2. Make signs asking people not to feed the dogs any table scraps. Ask your guests to discourage begging and overfeeding by posting signs reminding them not to feed the dog any table scraps.
3. Keep the hotdogs away from the dog. Hotdogs are the perfect temptation and also the perfect size to choke on.
4. Keep corn on the cob away from dogs. While corn on the cob is not toxic, it can cause harm.
5. Watch for dips that can contain hidden hazards. Chips and dips can seem harmless enough, until you consider the ingredients such as onion, garlic, avocado, and more.
6. Beware of the fruit salad. Many dogs enjoy a bite or two of icy cold fruit but some fruit salads contain grapes, which are toxic for dogs.
7. Watch out for raisins. Raisins can find their way into savory and sweet dishes and nut mixes, and like grapes, are toxic for dogs.
8. Keep desserts away from the dog. Desserts are a minefield of potential disaster. It’s better to keep desserts and dogs separate.
9. Keep dogs away from the booze. Dogs and booze simply don’t mix. The Pet Poison Helpline warns, “ alcohol poisoning in pets is more common than you think! This is because alcohol can be found in surprising places. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and respiratory failure:”
10. Watch for non food items. Plenty of non food items make their way into celebrations. It’s good to remember that not all items are safe around pets, such as unused fireworks.
11. Protect your dog from heatstroke. Protect your dog from heatstroke by ensuring you are monitoring your dog’s health on a hot day.
12. Keep used fireworks and hot coals away from pets. Be sure to keep pets safe from used fireworks by having a designated place to store them.
Ultimately only you can protect your pet while allowing them to enjoy some of the festivities. Preplanning and protecting your dog from himself can go a long way to having a great day stay great.
DogTube offers more insight on these doggy friendly tips, so head on over to get more of the scoop.
Here's another thought — parties can be fun for your furry friend as well, and perhaps you may want to consider getting her a doggy dessert or two. That way she won't feel completely left out and can snack on some food that is safe for her.
