Holi is a colourful festival but little carelessness during this time may cause serious health problems in companion animals. The information was shared by Dr Kirti Dua, Professor Veterinary Medicine, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana. He said that generally it is considered that the use of dry colours are harmless for the dogs but many a times manufacturers mix harmful chemicals in these colours. Most of the colours available in the market are actually a combination of various chemicals, like Zinc, Lead and Mercury Sulphate. All these chemicals present in the colours may act as accumulative poison and can cause skin and eye allergies, respiratory distress and many sort of toxicities in the pet animals. Many a times, dogs tend to lick their body, and the taste of dry colours makes them prone to throwing up. Throwing water filled balloons on the dogs can also cause eye injuries.
Dr. Dua advised that the general precaution which the pet owners can take is to keep the pet away from children who tend to throw water balloons at the pet. In case of balloon hit, wash the eyes of the pet with clean water and observe the dog for any sort of irritation. If you are taking the dog for walk on the next morning, then it is recommended that you put a muzzle on your dog to avoid accidental licking of colour spread over roads or parks. In case of accidental ingestion signs like: excessive salivation, vomiting, loose motions, behavioural changes like aggression or stupor may be observed in the pets. In that case consult the nearest veterinarian. After Holi, do not use detergent, kerosene, spirit, nail polish remover, alcohol or acetone to try and remove the colours. These are strong irritants and tend to break down the protective skin barrier. Use normal bathing soap and moisturise the skin well. Don’t limit yourselves to your pet animals. Be considerate about the strays which live around you too. People must realize that the colours have been added to Holi to make the festival more joyous and enjoyable and not to cause inconvenience to pets and stray dogs.
