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July 4th weekend is a great time to reminisce with friends and family, to spend time together and to enjoy one another’s company. Our pets want in on that family time, too.
Here are some tips to help keep them safe and secure.
Fireworks and Loud Noises
Most pets have a strong reaction to fireworks. The smells, sights and sounds are frightening and can cause animals to experience extreme anxiety or to bolt or escape. If you’re going to celebrate with fireworks, please make sure to secure your pets safely inside. Turn on the radio or TV as a distraction. Leave them with busy toys, puzzles or other food-related items. Check on them often.
Remember to pick-up the leftovers! Matches, citronella candles and firework remnants are very easy for pets to ingest and are extremely toxic.
Bug Sprays and Sunscreen
In addition to keeping our pets on heartworm, flea and tick prevention, it’s a good idea to use pet-safe bug spray at times when the mosquitos or biting flies are out. There are numerous all-natural, organic, unscented options available.
Pets gets sunburns too! Use a pet-safe sunscreen on pets who will be exposed to the sun, especially those with pink spots and/or pink noses. Those lighter spots are most susceptible to sunburn. To pick the best products, do your homework or ask your veterinarian for a recommendation.
Remember that unless specifically designed for animals, insect repellants and sunscreens can be toxic to pets. Signs of repellent toxicity include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. DEET, a common insecticide in products for humans, may also cause neurological issues in dogs. Only use pet-safe products.
Road Trips
If you will be traveling this July 4th weekend, make sure to never leave your pet in a car unattended. Temperatures in a car, even on a mild, sunny day, can reach dangerous highs in mere minutes. Even a car parked in the shade with the window cracked does not alleviate the dangers of lack of oxygen and overheating.
Safe travel with pets means securing them in a travel carrier or kennel or using pet-safe seat belts. Even a minor fender bender can send your pets flying through the car. They can be ejected through the window or become a projectile, endangering everyone else in the vehicle. Keep any personal items stashed in your car that your pet might ingest while you’re focused on the road, such as tobacco, gum, candy/snacks or medications, out of reach.
Whether you are traveling or not, be sure that your pet is microchipped and that your contact information associated with the chip is current. Make sure your pets are fitted with a collar that has an ID tag containing identifying information. It’s your pet’s ticket home if something happens.
Provide Plenty of Fresh Water
Pets can become dehydrated quickly, so it is very important to provide plenty of fresh, clean water at all times. Make sure that they have a shady place to get out of the sun. Animals with flatter faces, such as boxers, pugs and Persian cats, are more susceptible to heat stroke since they cannot pant as effectively to cool themselves off. These pets, along with seniors, those who are overweight or who have heart or lung diseases, should be kept cool in air-conditioned rooms as often as possible.
No Human Food or Drinks
Barbeques are a popular July 4th activity. Grills get hot and they smell great, making them a pet magnet. Ever catch your dog licking every part of the grill they can reach? Dogs will especially see it as invitation to clean-up grease drippings or any scrap they can find, which can lead to burns. So, make sure they can’t get to it during your gathering.
Remind your guests not to feed any leftovers or food scraps to your pets, as they may be tempted to toss them a treat from their plate. Our pets are not designed to ingest most human foods, so you could end up with a sick pet, ranging from an upset stomach, vomiting and diarrhea to poisoning. Other foods commonly found at BBQs, like onions, grapes, avocado, raisins and chocolate, are especially toxic to pets.
Other potential dangers at a cookout include citronella torches, campfire sparks and alcohol. Alcohol is very dangerous to our pets. Be sure to keep alcoholic beverages away from animals. Should your pet ingest alcohol or toxic human food, take them to your nearest emergency vet clinic right away.
Open Water: Pools and Lakes
Never leave your pets unsupervised around a pool or lake. Even dogs who can swim can run into trouble. If your pet seems like they would enjoy a swim, introduce your pets to water gradually. Never force them and reward them for every tiny bit of progress they make. Make sure they always wear flotation devices when on boats.
Also, try to keep your dog from drinking pool water, which contains potentially dangerous chemicals like chlorine. Many pool chemicals will cause burns to the mouth, throat and stomach, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your pet when they are around the pool. Also, be sure to keep any extra chemicals stored out of paws’ reach.
Consider Celebrating a Humane Holiday
Many people love a July 4th barbecue, but not everyone is a carnivore. Remember to provide some vegetarian options for your guests. And, for those who eat meat, eggs or dairy, avoid the worst factory-farmed products. Make sure your July 4th meals are farm-animal friendly by purchasing products that are Certified Humane. The Certified Humane® Raised & Handled logo means that the food products have come from operations that meet precise, objective standards for humane farm animal treatment.
In celebration of this holiday, we remember and reflect on the sacrifices made by men, women and animals for the good of our country. We honor them and thank them for their service. Michigan Pet Alliance wishes you a safe and happy July 4th.
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