With the Fourth of July just around the corner, you may be thinking of cookouts, lounging outside and of course fireworks. Although this holiday can be relaxing and fun for your family, it can be stressful and scary for your pet. Here are a few tips to keep your pet relaxed and healthy during your Fourth of July festivities.
Avoid the Fireworks
Not only can loud fireworks scare your pets, making them more likely to run away or hide, but the use of home fireworks can also pose the risk of burns to your curious pets. Many fireworks contain toxic substances that could be lethal if ingested. If your pet is scared of fireworks, try to make the evening as calm as possible for them. Keep them at home and don’t take them to Fourth of July festivities. Make sure to keep them in an escape-proof area where they can feel safe and out of harm’s way. Play some calming music to drown out the boom of the fireworks and provide them with some familiar items such as their bed or toys to let them feel comforted.
ID Your Pets
With so much commotion and loud noises associated with the Fourth of July, pets may run away or become lost in an attempt to hide. Make sure your pets stay safe and are returned to you if they become lost. Have an identification collar on your pets that clearly has a number to call if they are found. In addition, it is important to microchip your pets. Microchipping your pet takes just minutes to do. It is just a little chip (the size of a grain of rice) that goes under your pet’s skin. If your pet arrives at a shelter or veterinarian’s office, the chip can be scanned and your contact information will pop up allowing them to notify you that they found your pet.
Don’t Leave Alcohol Unattended
Alcohol can be poisonous to your pets. If it is consumed, your pet can become very intoxicated, weak, depressed or even go into a coma. In severe cases, respiratory failure can occur and may even result in death.
Watch What They Eat
With cooking out a staple to the Fourth, it is easy for your pets to hop up and grab themselves a special treat. It is also more tempting to feed your pets a scrap or two from your plate so they feel part of the festivities. Resist these temptations. By keeping your pets away from raw foods and by feeding them their normal diet, you are helping your pet’s digestive system. Changing even one meal for your pet can give them diarrhea or severe indigestion. Plus, there are many common foods that people eat such as onions, chocolate, avocados, grapes and raisins that can be very toxic to animals.
Avoid the Repellent
Bugs can be a nuisance to you and your pet while enjoying the outdoors. However, don’t be tempted to apply bug or insect repellent to your pet unless it specifically says that it is pet-friendly. If your pet ingests this product, they can suffer many side effects such as drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or excessive thirst. Also, products containing DEET can lead to neurological problems in your pets. These same issues can also arise with the use of sunscreen, so please make sure anything you apply to your pet is specifically pet-friendly.
