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Spending time outside when the weather is warm invites cookouts, pool parties, and long days spent outdoors. While many dogs love to spend time outside, there are some safety precautions you’ll need to keep in mind before planning your next backyard bash. If you’re grilling when your dog is present, make sure you set up some boundaries to keep your dog safe.
Hazardous Foods and Substances
Some of the most common foods at barbecues are actually dangerous or toxic for dogs to consume. Alcohol, onion, garlic products, corn cobs, peach pits, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, grease, grapes, raisins, and chocolate are all toxic to dogs. Fatty foods like hot dogs, burgers, nuts, and cheese can also irritate your dog’s stomach, or even cause pancreatitis when ingested. You should also look out for any bones, which can have sharp points that could puncture or harm your pet. If your dog happens to ingest these or any other toxic foods, you should contact the Pet Poison Hotline or your veterinarian immediately.
Preventing Heat-Related Issues
When it’s hot outside, it’s especially important to make sure your dog stays cool and comfortable to avoid overheating. It’s crucial for your pet to have easy access to shade and water, so they can stay hydrated. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) warns you shouldn’t wait until your dog starts panting to make sure they’re hydrated. Keep an eye out for symptoms of heat stroke, including anxiety, restlessness, excessive drooling, unsteadiness, collapse, and abnormal gum and tongue color.
Securing Grilling Tools and Hazardous Items
Tools that have touched any marinade, seasonings, or food will smell tempting to your dog. But grilling accessories and food prep tools like wooden skewers, string, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap can cut your dog or get wrapped up in their throat. Be sure to keep your dog inside and away from the grill and the ground nearby until you’ve fully cleaned up and thrown away any hazardous materials.
Leaving food uncovered (even in your trash) provides an opportunity for your dog to access it. Everything from charcoal to grill utensils to food should be covered, put out of reach, and stored away properly so that your dog isn’t at risk of ingesting something toxic or harming themself by accident. If you use grease buckets, which are common with smokers and grills, make sure that you also keep your dog far away from those.
Grill and Fire Safety
Don’t leave your dog unattended near a hot grill or open flames at any time, or their curious nature may lead them to get a serious burn. Charcoal and lighter fluid can cause damage to your pet’s intestines if ingested, which is why it’s crucial to create a barrier around the grill area to prevent them from harm.
One alternative to grills that use charcoal or lighter fluids is to use a pellet grill. Since they use pellets rather than charcoal, they reduce the risk of dogs getting into hot charcoals or getting hurt by a grease fire. At high temperatures, they function similarly to regular grills that are fueled by charcoal or propane.
Intestinal Obstruction Risks
It’s no secret that dogs love to put things in their mouths, but they can’t ingest everything. Some breeds are more likely to swallow foreign objects than others, which can lead to intestinal obstruction. This is when the food or object creates a block in the digestion and/or bowel tract preventing solids or liquids from passing through. If left untreated, it can be life-threatening, decrease blood flow, and parts of their bowels can deteriorate. If you believe your dog has swallowed something they shouldn’t, contact your vet for advice immediately.
Symptoms of Obstruction
If you think your dog may have eaten something they shouldn’t have, some of the most telling symptoms include:
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Vomiting (constant vomiting can be a sign they can’t keep food down)
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Weakness
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Dehydration (from not being able to hold water)
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Bloating
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Abdominal pain
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Hunching
Securing Property
Just like when you let your dog out to go to the bathroom, you want to make sure the outside area is secure to prevent them from escaping. Fencing your backyard, putting in a gate, or making sure there is a long lead for your pet to walk around on will give them some freedom while allowing you to host without worrying about your pet getting loose.
Alternative Dog-Friendly Foods
Hosting a barbecue doesn’t mean all foods are off limits for your pet. There are many dog-friendly barbecue favorites that are safe for them to ingest. Safe human foods for dogs include vegetables like zucchini and sweet potato, as well as fish, shrimp, wheat and grains, turkey and lean pork (deboned), and fruit like strawberries, bananas, and blueberries.
Creating Safe Zones for Your Dog
Barbecues with guests can be an overwhelming environment for your dog. If you notice they’re becoming anxious or disengaging with people, make sure they have a safe space to retreat to that’ll help soothe their anxiety. This can be inside your home on a mat, in their crate, or in a shady area away from guests with dog toys they love and plenty of water.
Headquartered in Evans, Georgia, recteq is an outdoor lifestyle brand specializing in wood pellet grills. recteq has built a passionate community of grillers based on its commitment to delivering superior product quality and old school, US-based customer service. recteq offers a premium selection of best-selling rubs, sauces, BBQ accessories, and wood pellets, empowering grillers to create unforgettable meals and memories. All recteq products are available at www.recteq.com, with a curated selection available at retail partners such as ACE Hardware and Scheels.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.
