Seasonal
Kukur Tihar: How to Celebrate Your Dog Safely
· 4 min read
Tika, mala and a plate of treats. Here is how to make the day of the dog joyful and safe for your best friend.
On the second day of Tihar, Nepal thanks its dogs. Pets, working dogs and street dogs alike receive a tika, a marigold garland and a special meal. It is one of the happiest days of the year for dog lovers, and a few simple choices keep it safe.
Tika and mala
- Apply a small tika high on the forehead, away from the eyes and nose.
- Keep the garland loose enough to slip two fingers under, and remove it once photos are done so it is not chewed or caught.
- If your dog is nervous, let them sniff the flowers first and reward calm behaviour.
What to put on the plate
Sel roti, sweets and fried food are for people. Rich, sugary and oily food often causes vomiting and loose stools the next day. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onion and anything sweetened with xylitol are dangerous for dogs.
- Plain boiled chicken or egg with a little rice
- A new chew or a pack of dog biscuits
- A spoon of wet dog food over their usual meal
Remember the community dogs
If you feed street dogs on Kukur Tihar, offer dog food or plain cooked food and a bowl of clean water. Many families now mark the day by sponsoring a vaccination or a bag of food for a local shelter.
This article is general guidance and does not replace advice from a veterinarian who has examined your pet.
