July 4th safety for your pets

Before you throw your first burger on the grill or begin all your fun Fourth of July activities, remember your furry friends.  Fireworks, holiday foods, summer heat and travel, can all be stressful for your pet.  There are a few things you can do to make the holiday safer and happier for your pets prior to the festivities beginning.

• Make sure your pets have proper identification on them. Now is the time to check your pet’s identification tags and make sure they are up to date with your current information.  Update any microchip information your pet may have as well.  If your pet is not microchipped, it’s a great time to speak to your veterinarian about placing a microchip.
• When you go out to parties or firework displays, leave your pet at home. Loud fireworks and unfamiliar places can pose a risk of your pet getting spooked and running away.
• Keep your pets inside if you or your neighbors will be setting off fireworks. A safe, escape proof room or crate would be a great place for that.  Some soft music playing in the background can help filter the outside sounds.
• Keep sparklers, glow sticks and kabob skewers away from your pets. These are things that curious pets may try to ingest.
• July is typically one of the hottest months of the year. Keep your pet cool with lots of fresh water, shade, fans and / or the air conditioning (if you have it).
• Avoid the urge to feed your pets any table scraps. While “people” food looks, and smells good to our pets, remember, it is food for people.  Dogs and cats, can both look super cute begging for those extra holiday treats, but a lot of those items are toxic or at the very least can cause gastric upset.
• Never leave your pet locked in the car during extreme temperatures. Your vehicle acts like an oven and locks in the heat.  Temperatures in cars on mildly warm days can be significantly higher than outside temperatures and on hot days, and is extremely deadly.
• If you are traveling, leave your pets at home with a trusted friend or house sitter, or at a boarding facility. If you need to bring them with you, make sure you keep them safe.

While all these tips are great, the best defense is a good offense.  If your pet struggles with anxiety during these times, talk to your veterinarian about possible medications for your pet to help them cope.  Or consider a Thunder shirt, which is a soft and flexible pressure wrap to help calm your anxious dog.

For more information or if you have any questions about keeping your pet safe, please call our office!