Dussehra with pets: Ayudha Puja leftovers, camphor, marigolds and Ravan dahan

Dussehra in Bangalore is a two-part festival. On Mahanavami, the day before, Karnataka celebrates Ayudha Puja: cars, scooters, autos, buses and every tool in the house get washed, smeared with kumkum and vibhuti, garlanded with marigolds, and blessed. Ash gourds (boodu kumbalakai) are smashed on the road in front of vehicles and limes are crushed under the wheels. Then on Vijayadashami, which falls on Tuesday 20 October this year, there are processions, temple visits, and in parts of the city, Ravan dahan with effigies packed with crackers.

It is a joyful few days, and a busy one for anyone walking a dog: the streets are full of things a curious nose wants to investigate, and some are sharp, toxic or both.

After Ayudha Puja the lane is a treasure map, and half the treasure is hazardous.

Walks after Ayudha Puja: what is on the road

The morning after Ayudha Puja, roads outside homes, shops and offices are scattered with puja leftovers. Keep walks short and on lead, with your eyes on the ground. Common hazards:

• Smashed ash gourd. Ash gourd itself is not toxic, but large chunks can be a choking risk, and pieces that have sat in the sun, on a dirty road, under traffic, can be spoiled and cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
• Crushed limes. Citrus peel and juice contain oils that commonly cause drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea if a dog chews them, and the acid irritates the mouth. A small lick is usually minor; a dog who eats several lime halves may need a vet.
• Kumkum, sindoor and coloured powder. These are smeared on vehicles and gourds and end up on the road. Some sindoor and kumkum products have been found to contain lead and synthetic dyes. Do not let your dog lick them, and wipe paws and muzzle if they walk or roll through any.
• Broken glass and coconut shell. Breaking a coconut is part of the puja in many places, and sharp shell fragments and occasional broken glass are easy to step on. Check paws after every walk.
• Plates and string. Food-smeared paper plates and garland thread tempt scavengers.

A solid "leave it" pays off here: practise at home first, and reward generously on the walk.

At home and in the garage: vehicle and tool puja

Ayudha Puja brings tools, knives, sickles, gardening implements and machinery out of cupboards and lays them on the floor for blessing, often with lamps and incense nearby. Dogs and cats can easily knock things over or step on blades.

• Set up the puja for tools on a table, or keep pets in another room while the items are on the floor.
• The car wash before the vehicle puja brings out shampoos, polishes and degreasers. Keep buckets out of reach and do not let dogs drink from them.
• Many people top up vehicle fluids during the pre-puja clean. Engine coolant (antifreeze) often contains ethylene glycol, which tastes sweet and is extremely toxic to dogs and cats even in small amounts. Wipe up any spills at once and store bottles high and closed.
• Vehicles get started, reversed and moved for puja, often with a crowd around. Keep dogs leashed or indoors, and check under and around parked cars for cats and street dogs who like to shelter there.

Camphor, diyas and incense

Camphor (karpoora) is lit for aarti in almost every Dussehra puja. Camphor is toxic to dogs and cats if eaten, and it is absorbed through the skin too. Signs include drooling, vomiting, restlessness and, in larger amounts, seizures. Small dogs and puppies who find a dropped tablet are most at risk, so keep the packet closed and on a high shelf and pick up any stray pieces.

Lit diyas and agarbatti should sit well above tail height. Cats in particular investigate flames, and a waving tail can knock a diya into a curtain. Heavy incense smoke can also irritate pets with asthma or other breathing problems, so keep a window open and give them somewhere else to be.

Marigold garlands and flower torans

Marigold (genda) garlands are everywhere at Dussehra, on vehicles, doorways, shop shutters and machines. The common Indian marigolds (Tagetes species) are only mildly toxic: chewing them can cause a mild stomach upset, and the sap can irritate skin. The bigger worry is the garland itself. The string or thread that holds it together can be swallowed, and a long piece of string can bunch up the intestine. This is a particular danger for cats, who love playing with string.

• Hang garlands out of reach and dispose of old ones in a closed bin, not on the floor of the balcony.
• If you see thread hanging from your pet's mouth or bottom, do not pull it. Go to the vet.

Unsure about other plants in your décor? Check the ASPCA plant database.

If you see thread hanging from your pet's mouth or bottom, do not pull it. Go to the vet.

Ravan dahan: crackers and crowds

Ravan dahan is smaller in Bangalore than in North India, but several community grounds and associations hold one, and the effigies are packed with crackers that go off in a long, loud burst. For most dogs, this is not an event to attend.

• Leave your dog at home. The bangs are sudden and loud, the crowd is dense, and frightened dogs bolt.
• Check timings for any Ravan dahan near you, and walk your dog well before it starts, away from the ground.
• Set up a quiet den with closed windows and background sound, the same way you would for a garba night. Our post on keeping dogs calm on garba nights walks through it.
• Check ID tags and collars. A dog who slips out during a loud night is much easier to bring home with a readable tag and your number on it.
• The next morning, the ground near the effigy will have burnt and unburnt cracker debris. Fireworks contain chemicals and heavy metals that can cause vomiting, mouth burns and worse if eaten. Keep your dog away from the area.

For firecracker basics, and the sweets that come with them, our Diwali pet safety guide applies to Dussehra too. Dussehra is also a good dress rehearsal: if your dog struggles with the crackers tonight, talk to your vet now, while there are still a couple of weeks before Diwali.

Food: sweets, prasad and street snacks

Dussehra brings another round of festive food: Mysore pak, holige (obbattu), payasam with raisins, and kosambari and sundal. Most of it is too rich, too sugary, or contains raisins, which are toxic to dogs. Our guide to sharing Navratri prasad with pets covers what is fine in a plain form. And please do not feed the street dogs in your lane leftover sweets; plain rice with a little boiled chicken or egg and a bowl of water is a far kinder offering.

When to go to the vet now

Head to your vet or nearest 24-hour clinic straight away if your pet:

• has eaten camphor, cracker debris, coolant, kumkum in any quantity, raisins, or chocolate
• has thread or string hanging from the mouth or bottom
• has a cut paw that keeps bleeding, or is limping badly after a walk
• is vomiting repeatedly, drooling heavily, trembling, wobbly or having a seizure
• is panicking and cannot settle for hours, or has injured themselves trying to escape

Do not make your pet vomit at home unless your vet tells you to. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is another source of advice on what has been swallowed.

Gentle food and good rewards for the week

For leash walks through puja leftovers, a small, high-value treat makes "leave it" much easier. Our Chicken & Ragi Bites are bone-shaped bites of chicken, oats and ragi, Karnataka's own millet, and our single-ingredient Fish Bites are good for dogs who cannot have chicken. If your vet recommends a bland diet after a festive tummy upset, our Boiled Chicken Keema is plain boiled chicken mince with nothing else added.

Questions about Dussehra and pet safety

Is it safe to walk my dog after Ayudha Puja?

Yes, with care. Keep your dog on a short lead, steer clear of smashed ash gourd, limes, kumkum and broken shell or glass, and check paws when you get home.

Are marigold garlands poisonous to dogs and cats?

Marigolds are only mildly toxic and usually cause no more than a mild stomach upset or skin irritation. The thread in the garland is the bigger risk, especially for cats, because swallowed string can cause a dangerous blockage.

What happens if my dog eats camphor?

Camphor can cause drooling, vomiting and, in larger amounts, seizures. Call your vet or nearest 24-hour clinic straight away and do not wait for symptoms.

Should I take my dog to see Ravan dahan?

It is best not to. The crackers inside the effigy are loud and sudden, and crowds make it easy for a frightened dog to bolt. Walk your dog earlier and keep them in a quiet room at home.

Sources

• Pet Poison Helpline: Camphor
• Pet Poison Helpline: Marigold
• Pet Poison Helpline: Fireworks
• Pet Poison Helpline: Lead
• ASPCA: Toxic and non-toxic plants
• RSPCA: Fireworks and pets