The 4th of July is a time for friends, family, and fun. But it can also be a time of fear for our furry pet friends. Fireworks can be scary and loud for them, so how can we keep our pets safe and happy during this holiday? Here are some tips to make the 4th of July a fun and fearless experience for your pet. Happy Independence Day!
Pet Travel Safety
- Be sure your pets have well-fitting collars with up-to-date tags.
- More dogs get lost on July 4th than any other time. Pet GPS Trackers and Pet Amber Alert services help find lost pets
- Pet Life jackets help keep water-bound canines afloat, as not all dogs are strong swimmers.
- Never leave your dog alone at the beach and/or on a boat, or at the pool as they can easily become overpowered by waves, tides and currents.
Pet Food Safety
- Don’t give in to offering your pet a plethora of BBQ treats. Keeping as close to their regular diet as possible will help avoid upset stomachs, vomiting, diarrhea and emergency room issues like pancreatitis.
Pets & Fireworks!
- Most dogs and cats DO NOT enjoy fireworks. Pet ears are far more sensitive to loud noises than ours. Classical music has been shown to reduce canine anxiety. Pet thunder shirts are also an option to help comfort stressed dogs. Close the windows, pull shades down, put cotton balls in your dog’s ears to help muffle loud noises. Remember to remove the cotton balls.
- Homeopathic pet calming remedies including Bach’s Rescue Remedy and Tranquility Blends containing the herb SkullCap help to safely reduce stress levels for dogs and cats with no adverse effects. Both products may be applied to the inner (hairless) ears, which act as acupressure points in dogs and cats. Both may also be given by mouth.
Summer/ Heat Pet Safety
- Don’t put human sunscreen on your pet. Pet sunscreen with SPF >30 is fine for dogs and cats, but avoid zinc oxide, which is toxic to pets.
- DEET, a common insecticide, is poisonous to pets and may cause neurological side effects, including drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and lethargy.
- Signs of pet heat stroke: excessive panting, drooling & staggering. What to do: bring your dog inside into air conditioning, offer cool liquids to drink & submerge the entire body & head with cool water. Normally a dog’s temperature is 101.5 degrees fahrenheit. Temperatures above 105 cause brain damage.
If you planning on celebrating the 4th of July with your pets this year be sure to keep them safe and have fun too! Always keep your pet on a leash or in a fenced-in area when outdoors. Fireworks can scare animals and they may run away if not properly supervised. Also, make sure they have plenty of water and shade available during the festivities. The summer heat can be dangerous for animals, especially if they are out running around all day. And finally, don’t forget to bring along some treats (or their favorite toys) to keep them occupied while the fireworks are