Dog Party Day

There’s a pretty cute pet holiday coming up. June 21st is Dog Party Day! It’s really good for Fido to spend time with other pooches. Here, a Crown Point, IN vet offers some tips on hosting a fun puppy playdate.

There are some things to keep in mind when creating your guest list. Only invite friendly, polite dogs that are current on all of their vaccinations and parasite control products. It’s also best if all of Fido’s canine pals have been fixed.

Consider having a barbeque or potluck for your human guests. As for Fido and his buddies, store-bought snacks are fine, but you can also make their treats. Homemade doggy ice cream is bound to be a hit! You can also make pupsicles. Put chew sticks, cut-up hot dogs, doggy treats, kibble, bacon bits, and/or shredded meat into ice cube trays or waxed-paper cups. Pour some water or sodium-free broth over them and freeze. Done! Only offer safe, suitable foods. Don’t give dogs anything that contains garlic, onion, scallions, or chives; chocolate; caffeine; alcohol; nuts; pitted fruits, especially avocado; grapes, currants, or raisins; or xylitol. Meat on the bone is also unsafe, as are raw foods and anything containing xylitol.

Make your home and yard safe by removing anything you don’t want Fido or his pals eating, playing with, or chewing on. This list includes toxic plants; plastic bags and wrappers; small or sharp objects; chemicals; medications; and wires and cords. We also recommend getting a self-latching gate.

You’ll need to provide lots of toys for your four-legged buddies. Set out a variety, as our canine friends all have their own preferences for playthings. Make sure there’s more than enough to go around, as dogs can get competitive over toys. If you ever needed an excuse to get your pooch an automated laser pointer, this may be it!

July can be pretty hot! Consider getting a kiddie pool for Fido and his pals to splash around in. You may also want to put out a sprinkler, so the pups can play in the spray. Pet fountains are another good idea.

Get some really cute photos of Fido playing with his buddies. Dog Party Day can really make for some adorable pictures!

Please contact us, your Crown Point, IN vet clinic, anytime. We’re dedicated to keeping tails wagging!