Pet care during Eid holidays

Dr Sagir Uddin Ahmed

DVM, MS, PhD (Small Animal 

Veterinarian and Consultant)

When the joyous season of Eid is upon us, life becomes a blur of shopping, frantic wrapping of gifts for the near ones and endless trips to the cattle markets; thinking about your pet's needs can become lost in the mix. 

STICK TO YOUR USUAL ROUTINE 

Even though the festive season is upon us, it is still important to stick as closely to normal feeding and walking patterns as we can so that our pets are not put under any undue stress, as a change in routine can often cause them to become anxious and unsettled.

FEEDING BONE AND SPICY FOOD

Though it seems natural to give a dog a bone, it is a choking hazard for most dogs, as they can cause choking. Bones can also splinter and cause an obstruction or laceration of your dog's digestive system. Moreover, during Eid ul Adha we should not offer any spicy dishes like biryani, tehari, rezala or other curries to our pets. 

Spicy curry has wonderful flavour and many people enjoy this type of food. There is even a health aspect, but its suitability for pets is questionable at best. Should this Bangladeshi seasoning be off limits for canines and felines? 

Spicy food are generally inappropriate for pets. Curry is basically flavourful seasoning which may not sit well in the stomach of pets. So while you may enjoy such a meal along with your pet, your pet may have some gastrointestinal problems later on. Lots of owners claim to give their pets spicy food, including curries, without thinking of the consequences. But make no mistake; vomiting and diarrhoea are not that uncommon. 

Spicy Eid dishes or curry sometimes also contain garlic and onion, which are toxic to pets. In dogs and cats, garlic and onion can cause Heinz body anaemia, resulting in a breakdown of red blood cells and anaemia. The symptoms of anaemia include vomiting, breathlessness, weakness and little interest in food. 

EID TREATS 

For us festive events often mean edible treats along with regular spicy beef and mutton dishes. Unfortunately, some of the most popular holiday goodies, such as chocolate, bones and nuts, can be extremely toxic or even fatal to pets. So never offer chocolate to your pets. 

Different types of chocolate contain various levels of fat, caffeine and the substances like methylxanthines. In general, darker and richer the chocolate, the higher the risk of toxicity for pets. Depending on the type and amount of chocolate ingested, dogs and cats might experience vomiting, diarrhoea, urination, hyperactivity, heart arrhythmias, tremors and seizures.

There are abundant processed sugars in many cookies and candies; certain nuts should not be given to pets. Almonds, non-mouldy walnuts and pistachios can cause an upset stomach or an obstruction of your pet's throat and/or intestinal tract. Macadamia nuts and mouldy walnuts can be toxic, causing seizures or neurological signs. 

Lethargy, vomiting and loss of muscle control are among the effects of nut ingestion. Keep your pet on their regular diet and caution visitors against giving your pets special treats or table scraps.  Do take a pet suspected of ingesting a harmful item or substance immediately to a veterinarian. 

EID UL ADHA TIMES 

Pets are often lured by leftover offal of sacrificial animals. Cleaning away of blood and body parts of animal is a must for the pets and human health as well.

EXERCISE

It is easy to slip out of your normal routine on Eid days given the endless parties, visitors and meeting friends and families, but if you are one of Bangladesh's thousands of dog owners, you will have no excuse for going outside and getting some fresh air and exercise for you and your dog. With the extra hustle and bustle with visitors, children, the noise of the television, music and computer games, etc. your dog will thank you for a bit of peace and quiet and exercise!

Do make sure that cat, rabbits and other caged animals are safely secured in a room or outbuilding, away from the sight and sound of Qurbani arrangement. As an alternative, the cage can be covered with thick fabric to muffle the sound, making sure there is sufficient ventilation. 

The top seven reasons pets need to see a veterinarian on Eid Day: 

Gastritis/enterit

Foreign body ingestion

Soft tissue trauma or injury by sharp object

Lacerations or bite wounds

Chocolate poisoning

Indigestion due to eating raw blood and left over of sacrificed animal

Choking due to ingestion of splintered bone and bone particle with obstruction or lacerations of your pet's digestive system.

Photo: Collected