Holi is a huge celebration but we cannot forget about our pets. Follow the essential steps that would make Holi safer for your pet and stray animals.
Holi is a festival of colors that is celebrated all around India. It is a great time to spend time with family, friends, and loved ones. This is one of the traditional events that has been celebrated over the ages. Holi is the only event filled with joyful activities where everyone puts colors on each other and has fun. It is definitely a fun experience for humans, but many times it extends to the pets and animals around us. Pets are definitely a part of our family. However, in this case, keeping the pets away from this celebration is recommended to all. The colors that are used in Holi are not very safe for the animals. Most of the time, it is the stray animals that face many problems during this period. As Holi is around the corner, let’s know about a few things that you must know this festival of colors-
- Keep them indoors:
If you want to make this Holi safe for your pets, then keep them indoors. This way you will be able to keep them away from all the chaos and loud music. In Holi, we get to see people come together and play loud music while playing Holi. All these can be really overwhelming for your pet. But if you keep them inside your house, then they will be able to stay away from all this. Another thing to be remembered at this time is that even if you are keeping them inside your house, use their leash. This way you will be in control of any kind of situation.
- Take them for a walk before the celebration:
It is a time of festival but that doesn’t mean you should skip their walk. You should take them for walks daily to keep them healthy and active. On this kind of date, you can take them way before the celebration is started. It is an effective way to keep them away from the celebration. By following this, you will get the chance to protect them from any kind of harmful colors.
- Use pet-friendly colors:
If you really want to celebrate Holi with your pets, then you need to make sure to use pet-friendly colors. Now, there are many organic colors available. You can use those colors if you want to include them in the Holi festival. The organic colors aren’t harmful to them. You can also make organic colors in your home by using beetroot juice, kukum, and turmeric. This would be a safe option for your pets.
- Avoid harsh chemicals:
Harsh chemicals are the source of irritation. That is why you should keep all the harsh chemicals away from your pets. It can cause many irritations, health issues, and respiratory issues. Keep all the colors away from them that have chemicals in them. This particular initiative will be really helpful for you and your pet.
- Keep an eye on them:
A lot of times, due to curiosity, pets tend to go outside on their own. And if you don’t watch them, they will try to go outside in the Holi celebration. And it will not be very good for your pet. Along with that, you should also monitor them if they are feeling any discomfort or illness at this time. If you suspect even a small thing, then go to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Otherwise, it can cause many problems.
- Make home-made treats:
Celebrations aren’t complete without good food and treats. The popular treats of Holi are laddoos, gujiyas, jalebis, and more. All of them have immense amounts of sugar, nuts, and artificial sweeteners. All these ingredients are quite harmful to your pets. That is why, try to make home-made treats that are suitable for your pets. This way, you will be able to include them in the Holi celebration and take care of their health.
- Don’t force them to participate:
Many times it is seen that people force their pets to participate in these festivities and put colors on them. Do not force your pets to join the celebration of colors. And do not put even a little amount of color on their body. Forcing them for anything can cause anxiety. And you definitely do not want all these things to happen to your pet. So, try to follow this while celebrating.
- Use gentle shampoo:
In case your pet gets exposed to colors, then try to use gentle shampoo to remove all the colors. This will eliminate irritations to their skin. If you do not do so, then many rashes can occur to their skin. This method will help you to keep them safe.
- Use oil:
If you are taking your pet outside in the time of celebration, then do not forget to apply oil on them. By using oil, you will be able to create a barrier from any kind of damage from colors. The oil will make sure that no amount of chemicals will get in touch with their skin. It is very much important to follow this recommendation.
- Wipe their paws:
Whenever you are taking your pet outside in the time of Holi, the first thing you need to do is wipe their paws. A lot of times there are colors and dirt on their paws that can create many irritations to their skin. So, always wipe their paws and keep them clean to avoid any kind of problems.
- Protect the strays:
You can take many precautions for your pet. But the strays face many problems at this time. Most of the time, due to accidentally or forcefully people put colors on them. There is no one to take care of them. So, you can take the initiative and aware your neighbours how harmful it is for them. Especially you should let the children know that there are chemicals in the colors that are not good for the animals. If you can keep an eye on the strays, then they might get a little protected in this celebration.
In the time of Holi, you can take these precautions to build a safe space for your pets. These will help them to get affected by this celebration. All these little initiatives will help them a lot.
