The Super Bowl can be fun for pets, but safety first!

 

Safe snacks for pets:   

·      Fruits: Apples, Blueberries, Cantalope, Pear, and Watermelon are some of the fruits you can safely feed your pet.  (Avoid grapes and raisins they can make your dog sick.)

·      Veggies:  Asparagus, Broccoli (steamed), Carrots, Cauliflower (steamed), Green Beans are great veggie treats for pets too! 

 

Avoid giving your pets: 

·      Alcohol, cooked bones of any kind (including chicken wings). 

·      Any food or candy that has Xylitol as a sweetener.  

Reduced calorie peanut butters with Xylitol will begin to affect your dog in as little as 15-30 minutes.  If your dog consumes Xylitol, contact your veterinarian immediately.   

 

Super Bowl ranks as the #1 day for potato chip consumption.  Chip bags are also the #1 cause of pet suffocation.  Bonnie Harlan (Prevent Pet Suffocation) learned the hard way when her dog raided the trash and got a chip bag stuck on his head.  She came home and found her dog. 

 

Center for Pet Safety and Prevent Pet Suffocation have provided a graphic to help pet owners understand how to help prevent chip bag suffocation.   Simply cut the bottom off of the chip bag prior to disposing.  It takes seconds and can save a life.

            

Other tips: 

·      Ensure lids are secured on food containers before disposal.

·      Keep your trash cans in a room/closet not accessible to your pet and secure the can lid.  Keep all chip bags, snack bags, pet food bags, etc. safely stored out of your pet's reach.

·      Never put any food bag on your pet’s head.  We see a significant number of advertisers using footage online and in commercials – because it looks amusing.  It is actually a very dangerous thing to do and should be discouraged. 

 

…and remember

·      Crowds of people can make pets nervous.  If your pet is one that tires easy and may not enjoy the festivities, provide them with their own quiet space, away from the party.