Holi safety for pets: colours, bhang and festival sweets

The AWBI advisory says chemical colours can burn an animal's skin and eyes, and asks citizens to use natural colours only for people. A dog shakes and rubs its face; a cat grooms. International Cat Care points out that cats groom any substance off their coats and swallow it, which is why accidental poisoning in cats is more common than many owners expect, and that a cat's liver cannot break down certain chemicals.

Even colours sold as herbal or natural are made for people, not for an animal to lick off its coat for hours. The simplest rule is the board's: no colour on any animal, of any kind.

Bhang is cannabis, and Holi is when it is most likely to be in an Indian home. The MSD Veterinary Manual, in a page fully reviewed in February 2026, says signs usually appear within 1 to 2 hours of eating it (up to 4 hours in a dog with an empty stomach), and that affected animals usually recover within 1 to 3 days with supportive care. Deaths are extremely rare, but the two dogs reported to have died had eaten baked goods made with concentrated cannabis butter.

Edibles often carry a second problem. A bhang laddoo or a chocolate brownie can also contain chocolate, raisins, ghee or sugar-free sweeteners, each harmful in its own right. Tell your vet exactly what was eaten, even if it is awkward: they need the facts to treat your pet, not a judgement.

The AWBI advisory points out that animals do not understand festivals: loud noise, sudden splashes of colour, water balloons and rough behaviour can be terrifying, and loud music can cause panic. A safe room your pet already likes, with music or a fan to mask the noise, is the same approach vets advise for Diwali firecrackers.

Frightened dogs can bolt through an open gate. Check that your dog's collar has an ID tag with your phone number before the day, and keep the main door shut when guests come and go.

Holi is a holiday weekend for many families, and some travel. When Petym opens in a city, a sitter will follow your pet's plan as you write it and send you a photo update every day of the booking. Add the Holi rules to the plan: indoors during the celebrations, walks before the street fills up, no outside food, and the door kept shut.

If your pet gets colour on it or eats something it should not, the sitter will call you and take your pet to the nearest 24-hour vet on the city's list. Leave a note of any food allergies and the name of your own vet so that the emergency vet can reach them.

The AWBI asks people to keep stray animals away from crowded or noisy areas, and to rinse any animal that has been coloured with clean water and seek veterinary or animal welfare help. If you see an animal being chased or forcibly coloured, the board's advisory calls that cruelty. Report it to the police or a recognised animal welfare organisation.