Pets and the Fourth of July

[Karen Smith]

Keep the 4th happy and safe for your family and your pets

During the 4th of July festivities, more animals are lost than at any other time of the year!  Loud noises from fireworks frighten animals due to their heightened senses of hearing, and many will do anything to escape the noise. Even normally shy dogs can leap over fences if spooked by loud noises.

Your pet’s behavior becomes unpredictable and may include:

• Chewing through a leash
• Jumping through screens and windows
• Digging under a fence
• Bolting away from the owner
• Running into traffic

Keep current identification on your pet & please keep your pets indoors or in the garage during fireworks activity.

All summer these tips will help you keep your pet happy and healthy:

• Place all wine, beer and spirits well out of paws’ way, alcohol is potentially poisonous to pets.
• Avoid scraps from the picnic table. Stick with your pet’s normal diet—any change, even for a day, can result in stomach upset. Certain foods like onions, avocado, chocolate, grapes and raisins are especially toxic to pets.
• Avoid covering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind. Ingestion can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy.
• Keep your pet away from fireworks, matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.
• Don’t leave pets unsupervised around a pool or lake—not all dogs are expert swimmers. And although they may look like a large water bowl, pools contain chlorine and other toxic chemicals that can cause stomach problems.
• Consider getting your pet microchipped.  It helps reunite you with your pet in the event they get lost

If your pet becomes lost, visit your local animal shelter daily to search for your pet.  Create flyers and post throughout your neighborhood and with local veterinary offices. Be proactive in searching for your pet.  It may not be able to find its way home on its own.