Holi with pets: keeping colours safe and fun

Holi is a joyful festival, but for pets it can be loud, confusing and risky. Many colours contain chemicals and dyes that can irritate skin and eyes, and are harmful if licked. With a little planning, you can celebrate and keep your pets safe.

Why Holi can be risky for pets

• Colours: many powders and wet colours contain dyes, metals or chemicals that irritate skin, eyes and airways. Pets lick their fur, so anything on the coat gets swallowed.
• Water balloons and pichkaris: can hurt and scare pets.
• Noise and crowds: loud music and lots of people can be stressful.
• Festive food and drinks: sweets, chocolate, fried food and bhang are not for pets.

Before Holi

• Keep pets indoors during the celebrations, in a quiet room away from the street.
• Walk your dog early, before people start playing.
• Check ID tags. Scared pets can run.
• Tell guests not to put colours on your pets, even "just a little tika".
• Set up a calm space with their bed and toys. A few sprays of Calming Environment Mist on their bedding can help (check the label before using around cats).

If your pet gets colour on them

Act quickly, before they lick it off.

1. Dry powder: brush and shake off as much as you can, outdoors, keeping it away from their eyes and nose.
2. Bath with a gentle pet shampoo. Use 5-in-1 Shampoo for adult dogs, or Puppy & Kitten Shampoo for young pets, cats (it's made for both) and sensitive skin.
3. Rinse many times until the water runs clear. Some colour may stain light coats for a few days; that's okay. Don't scrub hard.
4. Never use kerosene, petrol, thinner, detergent or harsh soaps to remove colour. They are dangerous to pets.
5. Dry thoroughly. See drying your dog after a bath.

When to call the vet

See your vet promptly if your pet has:

• Colour in the eyes, or red, watery or swollen eyes
• Sneezing, coughing or difficulty breathing
• Vomiting, drooling or diarrhoea (they may have swallowed colour or food)
• Red, itchy or broken skin
• Unusual tiredness or shaking

Keep festive food away

Keep sweets, chocolate, thandai and anything containing bhang or alcohol well out of reach. If your pet eats any of these, call your vet straight away.

After the festival

Check your pet's paws after walks; streets may be covered in colour and broken balloons. Wipe and dry paws, and follow up with our paw care routine.

For other festivals, see keeping pets calm through Diwali.