With summer just around the corner, many people are anticipating cooking out with their families and friends. Barbeques are also pretty popular with our canine patients! Dogs can get into mischief at grillouts, however, so you’ll want to take steps to keep your pup safe. Here, a Fort Bragg, NC vet discusses keeping Fido safe at the grill.

It’s fine to give Fido something yummy, but stick with plain, cooked, boneless meat, fish, or chicken. Never give your pup anything that contains garlic, onions, scallions, or chives; avocados; grapes, currants, or raisins; tomatoes; asparagus; chocolate; caffeine; alcohol; or xylitol, which is found in many processed foods. Raw dough or yeast is also unsafe.

Heat is a huge danger for our furry friends at this time of year. Make sure your pooch always has shade and fresh water. You’ll also want to keep an eye out for signs that Fido is getting too hot. Panting is often the first thing you’ll notice. Other warning signs include trembling, a warm back, and dark urine. If you see any red flags, immediately give your pup some water and get him to a cool, air-conditioned area.

Man’s Best Friend isn’t exactly shy about his quest for leftovers. Your pet may try to go through the trash. This can be quite dangerous, as the trash could contain things like can lids, tinfoil, fat trimmings, bones, and toothpicks. Get a can that closes tightly, and clear the table immediately after dinner.

Keep Fido well away from the flames! You may want to use a tie-out line. That way, your four-legged friend can still be part of the fun, but will be safely out of harm’s way.

Be sure to keep hazardous chemicals out of paws’ reach. This includes things like torch oil, lighter fluid, gasoline, sunscreen, and bug spray.

Fleas, ticks, and other parasites will be more than happy to crash your event. Keep up with your dog’s vaccinations and parasite control products!

Our canine pals have a tendency to get underfoot, which can sometimes get them into trouble. Keep an eye on Fido! You don’t want anyone feeding him anything that isn’t safe, or accidentally stepping on him.

Please reach out to us, your local Fort Bragg, NC vet clinic, for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs. We are here to help!