With the Queen’s Jubilee fast approaching, it’s important to consider how to keep your dog safe during the celebrations. A nice celebration of tea and sandwiches can quickly turn into a stressful time for your dog if the right precautions aren’t taken. If you’re concerned about your dog regarding any of the below, please contact your vet for advice.
Possible dangers
It’s easy for possible dangers to arise in a busy public setting. Key factors to consider when having a street party, celebrating at home or visiting friends are listed below:
Food
Usually, at these types of celebrations, there is a lot of food and drink. If we don’t keep a close eye on our pets they could eat something that they’re not supposed to. If the weather is nice, and you’re thinking of having a BBQ, make sure you keep a watchful eye on your dog and head over to our summer dangers page to see what you should look out for.
Foods and drinks to keep out of reach from dogs are:
Foods and drinks to keep out of reach from dogs are:
- Grapes
- Raisins, currants and sultanas,
- Onions
- Chocolate
- Alcohol
- Blue cheese
- Bread dough
Traffic
With the additional bank holiday, there’s a risk of increased traffic on our roads. This can become a hazard to dogs, especially with there also being street parties. Ensure your dog is on a lead, and if they’re feeling nervous, try to give your dog plenty of breaks away from the noise.
Noise
As with any celebrations, there are always different types of noises that may be unusual to your dog. Loud music, traffic noise, party poppers, loud voices and children shrieking with joy can all contribute to some dog’s anxieties.
Losing your pet
Jubilee celebrations may be unusual territory for your dog, which may, in some circumstances, may scare them and cause them to run to safety.
In case your dog does go missing, make sure your contact details are up to date with the service that their microchip is registered with. Ensuring your contact details are current will give your dog the best chance of being reunited with you, should the worst happen. We offer a Petlog Premium package for a one-off fee of £19.95. This allows you to update their records as many times as is needed throughout the lifetime of your pet – that would be less than £2 per year and gives you the peace of mind of knowing your pet is far more likely to be returned home if it went missing.
In case your dog does go missing, make sure your contact details are up to date with the service that their microchip is registered with. Ensuring your contact details are current will give your dog the best chance of being reunited with you, should the worst happen. We offer a Petlog Premium package for a one-off fee of £19.95. This allows you to update their records as many times as is needed throughout the lifetime of your pet – that would be less than £2 per year and gives you the peace of mind of knowing your pet is far more likely to be returned home if it went missing.
Fireworks
The lead-up to any celebration involving fireworks can be a very traumatic time for many dogs. Stress can be caused by the loud bangs and the continuous flashes produced by fireworks.
Not only this, but fireworks can be dangerous to your dog and can put their safety at risk. To avoid any disruption and anxiety caused to your dog during this celebratory time, read our advice on fireworks and preparing your dog for them.
Find out more about fireworks.
Bee’s and wasps
No picnic, or outdoor eating celebration, is complete without the usual visit from wasps or bees. With summer right around the corner, and with the weather warming up, these flying insects are becoming more active and may become more of a nuisance at our Jubilee celebrations. Most bee and wasp stings can be treated at home, but, like us, some dogs can be allergic to this type of venom, and can become quite unwell. If your dog does get stung, and you are concerned about them, then always contact your vet for advice.
Find out more about bee and wasp stings in dogs.
Find out more about bee and wasp stings in dogs.
Hot weather
As temperatures rise on warm spring days, or during hot summer heatwaves, your dog is more at risk of developing heatstroke. Dogs only sweat on a few small areas of their body, so they find it much more difficult to cool down than we do. Dogs are most likely to overheat when they are out exercising on hot days, so if the weather is nice over the long Jubilee weekend, and you decide to take your dog for a walk, then be aware of the signs of heatstroke and follow our advice on how to avoid it.
Find out more about heatstroke.
Find out more about heatstroke.
Seasonal dangers
As the weather warms up, the change in the season can bring with it a number of dangers. Things to be aware of are:
- Hot pavements
- Grass seeds
- Barbecues
- Blue-green algae
- Flowers and plants
- Insect stings and bites
- Slug and snail pellets
- Toads
- Ant powders, baits and gels
- Beach dangers
- Dogs in hot cars
Leaving your dog on their own
Over the past few years, due to the pandemic, we have been spending a lot of time at home. This has meant that our dogs have adapted to a new normal of having us around a great deal. It is important that if you’re planning to leave your dog alone you consider these key points:
- Think about where your dog is going to be left
- Dogs like a cosy quiet corner or an area that makes them feel secure
- Prepare a designated area for them
- Place training
Socialising
If you have a puppy, or a nervous dog, then taking them to a celebration could be an overwhelming situation for them. They may need to be given enough space to feel safe and well looked after by you. If there are unfamiliar dogs at the event it could make your dog feel uncomfortable and make them act out of character.
If you’re still in the process of socialising your dog, or if they are not comfortable in big groups, then it’s important that you start small, such as meeting one other dog, rather than bringing them straight into a large group setting.
Find out more information on our puppy socialisation page.
If you’re still in the process of socialising your dog, or if they are not comfortable in big groups, then it’s important that you start small, such as meeting one other dog, rather than bringing them straight into a large group setting.
Find out more information on our puppy socialisation page.
Glass
At events, it is easy for things to become broken and it isn’t always easy to be able to see every piece of broken glass on the floor or on the surface. This is sometimes hard to avoid, but if glass has been broken make sure that it’s been cleared up thoroughly, and keep your dog out of the room where the glass has been broken whilst it is being cleared up.
Should your dog step on a piece of glass, try to clean the area and ring your vet straight away for advice.
Should your dog step on a piece of glass, try to clean the area and ring your vet straight away for advice.
Decorations
Many people like to decorate their homes when there is a special occasion. For dogs, this can be quite intriguing and unusual for them. Some dogs try to pull down decorations and may even try to chew on them. Some decorations may be sharp, may splinter or could cause an obstruction in your dog’s stomach or gut. If your dog does eat something it shouldn’t then always speak to your vet for advice.