Summer is here, and many people are taking advantage of the warm weather to fire up their grills. Our canine friends also love barbeques! Just be sure to put Fido’s safety first. A local Ellicott City, MD vet offers tips on bringing your pooch to barbeques in this article.
Food
A good barbeque can be kind of like the begging Olympics for dogs. It’s fine to give your pooch a special treat, but be careful what you offer. Many popular foods are toxic to pups! Don’t let Fido have anything that contains or is seasoned with garlic, onions, scallions, chives, mushrooms, or chocolate. Pitted fruits, especially avocado, are also unsafe, as are grapes, currants, and raisins; raw milk, dough, meat, or yeast; alcohol; caffeine; and anything that contains xylitol.
Chemicals
Lighter fluid, bug spray, citronella, and other chemicals are all unsafe for Man’s Best Friend. Keep these things out of paws’ reach!
Preparation
Before taking Fido to a barbeque, make sure he is fixed, microchipped, and current on his vaccinations and parasite control. Your furry pal should also know basic doggy obedience commands, like Sit, Stay, and Come.
Trash
Our canine buddies are fairly opportunistic, and will not hesitate to snap up anything that falls to the ground. Be careful with this, as your furry friend could chomp down a sizzling-hot or undercooked piece of meat. Fido also isn’t above getting into the trash. This can be a dangerous habit, as the garbage may contain things like bones, tin foil, skewers, can lids, and other hazards. Use garbage cans that close securely. Also, clear away food and leftovers as soon as everyone has finished eating.
Gates
Speaking of things that close securely, we strongly recommend getting a self-latching gate. It’s much too easy for a pup to slip out through a gate someone accidentally left open.
Heat
Summer can be rough on Man’s Best Friend. After all, Fido is wearing a fur coat! Make sure that your canine companion always has plenty of fresh water. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for signs that your dog is overheating. Panting is usually the first one. If you know or suspect that your pup is too hot, immediately get him to a cool spot and give him some water.
Please contact us, your local Ellicott City, MD vet clinic, anytime. We are always happy to help!
