Super Bowl Sunday is on the way again! However, this year might be a bit different. With the ongoing pandemic, you’re probably — hopefully — not having any major parties this year. But you may still have your own, private viewing session with your family, and that can still mean danger for dogs.
The handful of people — or maybe even just one or two people — in your home watching the Super Bowl can still have fun eating snacks, cheering on teams, drinking, and celebrating. All of those things are great for us humans, but they can cause problems for dogs if we’re not careful.
Here are a few Super Bowl Sunday safety tips that will help you protect your pooch, even if you’re not having a big party this year.
Keep Snack Foods Out Of Reach
We love to eat finger foods during the Super Bowl. While you may enjoy your treats, your pup should stick to their own foods, as the common appetizers people eat while watching the Super Bowl are very dangerous for dogs.
Chicken wings have harmful bones that can splinter and wreak havoc on a pup’s insides or cause a dog to choke. Onions, garlic, and chives, which are all found in plenty of dips or potato skins, cause upset digestive systems and damage red blood cells in pets.
Salt found on chips and pretzels causes excessive urination, thirst, or even sodium poisoning. Chocolate is especially toxic to dogs. And cheese and other dairy products, which are found in nachos, desserts, pizza, and plenty of other Super Bowl snacks, can lead to upset stomachs and diarrhea, as most pets lack the enzymes to break down lactose.
Keep food off the coffee table and out of your dog’s reach. Advise your family members not to feed your dog any scraps, no matter how cute their puppy-dog eyes may look.
Watch The Alcohol And Caffeine
Alcohol is toxic for pets. It can cause any number of problems for dogs including vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, tremors, loss of coordination, abnormal blood acidity, coma, or even death.
Keep the drinks in hand and away from dogs. Under no circumstances should a dog drink alcohol.
Caffeine from soda, iced tea, or coffee can be just as bad. It can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, seizure, or death.
All drinks you have for the Super Bowl should stay out of your dog’s reach. The sweet smells may attract your pup, so clean spills quickly and don’t let your dog do the work by lapping it up for you.
Secure Your Waste
Keeping your food and drinks away from your dog is all for nothing if they can just raid the garbage bag later.
Even getting into paper plates or plastic cups that have no food on them can cause plenty of indigestion or choking and can lead to an emergency vet visit quickly.
Keep the garbage in a secure place, and let your family know to make sure the bin closed and away from your dog.
Cheering, Shouting, And Dogs Don’t Always Mix
You and your family may love cheering on your team loudly and enthusiastically, but imagine if a bunch of people in your home started yelling about something you didn’t understand. It might be pretty scary.
Noise anxiety is a real thing in dogs, and it can be dangerous. Some dogs will try to run and hide or even escape the house. They may act fearfully, bark, or snap at anyone who tries to approach.
If your dog is prone to fear of loud noises, keep them in a secure room away from the action. Playing the radio or television might also reduce stress and drown out the noise.
Drinkers Are Clumsy, So Watch Out
There’s nothing wrong with having a few drinks. It’s the Super Bowl, after all. But people who have had a few drinks tend to be a little more touchy-feely, especially if there’s a cute pooch running around.
The lack of coordination and reduction in motor skills can also lead people to be clumsy, and they might not be able to react in time if a dog suddenly appears in their path. Tripping, stumbling drinkers can lead to injuries for pets and humans alike.
If you or any members of your household might be planning on having one too many, it may be time for the dog to find a safer room to stay in.
If All Else Fails, Avoid The Hassle
Your pup isn’t going to have nearly as much fun as you are while watching the Super Bowl. They don’t care about the game or the commercials.
Instead, just avoid the problems by putting your dog in a safe room with the radio on so they can relax. You and your family members will probably appreciate not having to worry about your dog while watching the game, as well.
Is your dog watching the Super Bowl with you this year? What are you doing to keep them safe? Let us know in the comments below.
