Are you looking forward to Holi? Are you going to be green like The Hulk or red like Hellboy? Are you already grinning at the idea of leaping out at unsuspecting victims and smearing them blue and purple? Just as long as said victims are not furry, four-legged creatures, you can knock yourself out with the riot of colours. t2 spreads the bow wow of caution...

(L-R ) Avantika Sen and Anushka Dasgupta, who have been working for street dogs around Convent Road, admit that “Holi is a festival dreaded by all animal welfare workers!” And strays can have a less harrowing time if you follow the girls’ advice (see box). Picture: B. Halder

Beware of causing coloured puddles  because street dogs might lap it up and be sick. 

Mange and maggot infections are worsened by Holi colours and street dogs have enough of that anyway. 

A word of caution from Mars India, whose pet care brands include Pedigree and Royal Canin: 

Puppies, senior dogs and dogs with short hair are more predisposed to falling victim to colour poisoning than breeds with longer coats because the sparsely coated regions of the body are affected by Holi colours.

No Indian festival is complete without sweets, but remember that food rich in butter, cream and sugar could result in a stomach upset for your pet. 

If the pet happens to get any colour on it, do not use kerosene, spirits or any hair oil to clean the colour off their coat. A good, light shampoo would suffice. 

Dry colours are equally toxic for dogs and cats as it may cause irritation in the eyes and nose, leading to an infection in the lungs, eyes or respiratory tract. 

Dog skin is very sensitive and most dogs are allergic to dry and wet colours. Mercury sulphate, lead, metal oxides and pieces of glass present in colours are the prime sources of infection. 

Look out for symptoms of colour poisoning — skin allergy, vomiting, salivation, loose stool, loss of appetite and behavioural changes. 

Vet speak

“Every year, I deal with many skin allergy and colour poisoning cases during Holi. The worst case was a pug suffering from corneal ulcer due to application of dry colour on his face,” says Munmun De. 

How to make it a doggy-Holi

Actress Ridhima Ghosh will spend Holi indoors, with her six-year-old Labrador Retriever. “Rufus will go for his morning walk and neither he nor I will be stepping out again. Holi is just not a festival for dogs. Even if they’re not sprayed with colour, they can step on some coloured water and lick that off and that’s poison!” Rufus’s day-in will include chew-toys and a nap on his human mother’s bed. #SoMuchWag

Nilanjanaa Senguptaa — animal lover, TV producer and actor Jisshu Sengupta’s wife — has ideas on how dogs can have some wet fun too!

• Put an inflatable pool out on the terrace or garden and have your pets dive in. It will be a welcome break from the humidity.

• If you don’t have space for an inflatable pool, turn on the shower in the bathroom, take some toys in and make bath-time fun with a rain dance. Your pet will be super happy.