A backyard barbeque or garden party can be fun for the whole family — including your pets. Here are some tips to help ensure that your four-legged friends have a good and safe time.
- Take your dog on a nice, long walk before guests arrive. If he’s already tired, he will be less likely to jump, bark, or be over-enthusiastic in his greetings.
- Set up a safe place for your pets to get away from the activity of a cookout or party. Maybe a bed or blanket in a shady spot; maybe a safe room inside where the guests won’t intrude.
- Keep pets away from matches, lighter fluid, citronella candles and other insect repellants, and the barbeque. Wagging tails can knock things over!
- Discourage guests from feeding your pets. Many people don’t realize that things like grapes, onions, and chocolate can be dangerous to pets! If you can’t trust your guests to keep people food away from pets, avoid serving foods that may be dangerous to dogs or cats (or other pets you may have).
- Keep garbage safely away from pets. Rotting food can have mold or bacteria that can make your pet sick. Fatty foods can contribute to pancreatitis. Other dangerous foods may be lurking in the trash.
- Ask overnight guests to store medications — including over-the-counter medications — safely away from pets.
- Watch out for leaking coolant from parked cars. Some antifreeze and coolants can be toxic even in small quantities — but have a seductively sweet smell.
- Store lawn fertilizers and insecticides well away from your party spot — you don’t want your pets to get into something dangerous while you are distracted!
If your pets just aren’t the social type, tuck them away in a quiet room before the guests start to arrive. Put out a bowl of fresh water and a special toy or treat — you could even leave the radio on to drown out noise from the party.