MSPCA-Angell's Tips to Kick-Off a Pet-Friendly BBQ Season

Memorial Day Weekend is the official start to the barbecue season. After months of cold weather, it is time to once again enjoy the great outdoors (and your backyard) with your furry friends. You may not know this, but barbecues can present several dangers to your pets. Please read these tips from Angell Animal Medical Center’s Emergency and Critical Care veterinarians to keep your pets safe this weekend. 

1. Heat Stroke: Pets are extremely sensitive to high temperatures. Provide shade and plenty of fresh water for your pet to drink. Never leave them in your car.

2. Skewers: Keep barbecue skewers out of reach before they end up in your pet's stomach.

3. Garbage: Securely place all trash in garbage bins to prevent your pet from eating tasty “leftovers,” including corn cobs and bones.

4. Plants: Keep your pet away from garden poisons including compost, toxic plants and slug bait.

5. Guests: Speak with guests about what your pet can and cannot eat. Several foods to avoid include: fatty sausages (can cause pancreatitis), chocolate from s’mores (can cause chocolate toxicity) and mushrooms (mushroom toxicity can prove fatal to certain dog breeds).

6. Cars: Keep your pet in a secure location. Roaming pets can suffer hit-by-car traumas and deadly antifreeze ingestion (ethylene glycol toxicity).

7. Fire: Not all backyard chefs use the traditional barbecue. Pets can be badly burned in pit fires and camp fires. Do not allow your pet near any open flames.

8. Pets: Before bringing your pet to a barbecue or allowing guests to bring theirs, make sure you know if all of the animals will get along or if it is best to leave your pet safely indoors.

9. Windows/Balconies: If you are opening the windows of your house or apartment, be sure to keep the screens in place so that your pet does not go outdoors unnoticed. It is also important to keep screens in place and your pet off balconies to avoid fatal falls.

Enjoy the outdoor season, but remember to keep your pets out of harms' way. For more information, please visit http://support.mspca.org/.

Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston (617-522-7282) is open 24-hours-a-day/seven-days-a-week if your pet is in need of immediate medical care. You can also call the Angell Animal Poison Control Hotline at 1-877-2ANGELL, open 24-hours-a-day, for immediate veterinary help.