“Bura na maano, Holi hai!”
An excuse which has stood the test of time and can be heard every year on this festival of colours.
But hey, you are supposed to feel bad about some things, right? Like playing pranks on our furry friends by colouring them red and blue. (Not cool, guys!)
You may think that it is fun to play and enjoy Holi with stray dogs, but the fact is that it’s not. These animals do not enjoy Holi when we paint them with colours.
Whether these colours are herbal or toxic, veterinarians say that no colour is safe for our furry friends. Once these colours touches their skins or worse, enters their digestive systems, it can cause severe damage to their health.
Not only stray animals, but even when we paint our pets with colours it becomes a living nightmare for them — as if Diwali and the the sound of firecrackers wasn’t enough for them to bear.
So, What’s Wrong in Playing Holi With Dogs?
Allergies
“When the colours come in contact with their skin, it causes severe skin allergies,” said Dr Anoop Pandey of Vets and Pets Clinic, Noida.
Puking
Not only is contact with skin harmful, things can get worse if our furry friends digest some of the colour. “If they ingest the colours and it stays in their stomach for a long time, it can cause vomiting or even diarrhea,” says Dr Pandey.
Another vet, Dr Praveen Dutt Sharma, says that since dogs often lick themselves, it is likely that “colours, when used in excess, can cause harmful effects on their liver and kidneys.”
Blindness
Veterinary surgeon Dr Praveen Sharma says, “If these colours go into their eyes, it can cause loss of eyesight.” Dr Pandey seconds this, “If colour goes in their eyes, it can also lead to blindness.”
What Can We Do To Stop This?
The question here is - how do we avoid such atrocities against these poor animals who can’t even speak for themselves?
“We need to educate people (our family, friends and neighbors) about the harmful effects of these colours on dogs. If they come in contact with colours, we need to thoroughly wash their furs with water and mild dog shampoo till the colour goes off,” says Dr Pandey.
Dr Sharma says, “Like we take care ourselves after celebrating Holi, the dogs require the same treatment. The colour should not be allowed to stay on their body for days.If situation gets worse, they should be immediately taken to vet for proper consultation and treatment.”
Yes, it’s that simple!
So this Holi, let’s pledge to be #AnimalFriendly by not painting our furry friends, rather even help stray dogs in our neighborhood by keeping them clean and safe.
Happy Holi!
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