Stress, discomfort and even serious health problems can affect animals taken to participate in street blocks and other environments with a large concentration of people and loud music.
The warning was given by the president of the Medical and Surgical Clinical Committee for Companion Animals of the Regional Council of Veterinary Medicine of Rio de Janeiro (CRMV-RJ), Alexandre Guerra, in an interview with Agência Brasil.
For Guerra, the most sensible thing is for the owner not to expose the animal to crowds and remember that festivities are for humans.. The veterinarian recalled that dogs have much more accurate hearing than humans, capturing intense sounds.
“For us, it’s no longer healthy, let alone for them.”
Excessive noise
That’s why, Noises such as fireworks, whistles, loudspeakers and crowd screams can generate fear, stress and anxiety attacks in animals.
As a result, they may display aggressive behavior or try to escape, exposing themselves to the risk of being run over, especially in the case of small dogs.
“In the blocks, the chance of contact with another animal also increases, and aggression and stress can be present in any breed”, warned Alexandre Guerra.
High temperatures
High temperature is also a risk factor. Unlike humans, dogs regulate their temperature mainly through breathing, and Exposure to heat and sun can cause hyperthermia, leading to fainting and even death.
Another point highlighted by the veterinarian is food. “You have to be careful on the street. Many people eat food bought from stalls and feed it to their dogs. It’s risky.”
The canine sense of smell is also extremely keen, and Contact with strong perfumes, smoke and intense smells can be uncomfortable for dogswho cannot simply walk away when they feel uncomfortable.
“Also be careful with chemicals, such as foam and glitter, present in costumes, because animals are very curious and may ingest or try to ingest small ornaments and threads”, warned the veterinarian.
Revelers have fun at the Cordão da Bola Preta parade, in the center of Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil
Carnival foam, for example, can cause irritation to the skin and mucous membranes of animals, increasing the risks.
Alexandre Guerra still considers costumes for pets to be harmful, because they hinder thermal regulation and can cause allergies or poisoning if ingested.
“He may feel uncomfortable with it, try to get rid of the fantasy and end up ingesting small pieces.” He also highlighted that
In Guerra’s assessment, animal welfare must be prioritized.
“Owners should consider that Carnival is full of stimuli that can be harmful to the physical and psychological health of animals. The best option is to keep them in a safe and calm environment at home”, he recommended.
