Hosting a braai with friends, family and your pets is always a good idea. But don’t forget to keep your eyes WIDE open for any hazards related to your four-legged braai mates!
- A wagging tail can do some serious damage.
- Human snacks are NOT doggy snacks – we don’t want a runny tummy in the morning.
- Grilling accessories: Don’t keep skewers, foil or plastic lying around. If your dog thinks they are the source of a tasty morsel, they can cause a blockage or do damage to him that may require surgery.
- Don’t forget the grill itself – BIG OUCH!
- Establish boundaries: Sizzling sausages can be too hard for your dog to resist, and if swallowed whole, they can cause stomach ulcers and dehydration.
- Keep your pet away from insect repellents, citronella candles, fertilisers, pesticides, weed killers and rodent bait as they are loaded with chemicals that are toxic to pets.
- Don’t give them cooked bones – although it may be tempting to want to take your dog back to his ‘ancestral roots’. Cooked bones, which can splinter easily, are a choking hazard and can cause injury as the splinters can puncture or become lodged in your pet’s digestive tract.
- Make sure your dog doesn’t go for a lone wander. Parties can be a busy time with visiting friends, so make sure your pet doesn’t escape during the commotion.
