Have A Pet Friendly 4th Of July
Your pet experiences his or her environment through the nose, eyes, and ears – and fireworks trigger all of these senses to the extreme. Even the most serene and relaxed among the four-legged set can become extremely agitated by fireworks and the chaos of the 4th. So what can we as pet owners do to keep our pets happy and safe during the 4th of July celebrations this year? Read on to learn more…
Keep Pets At Home
Do your pet and yourself a favor and consider removing him or her from the 4th of July festivities all together.
Whether you are celebrating at home or attending one of the many festivals or fireworks displays planned for the holiday weekend, consider finding a place for your pet to chill out that is as far removed from the noise as possible. Not only will your pet will benefit from a serene and quiet environment, you’ll probably have more fun if you don’t have to worry about your pet’s reaction and behavior .
Ka-Boom!! Time For Fireworks!
If you must have your pet in the vicinity of fireworks this year, adhere to the following tips so things are as mellow as possible:
- Keep dogs and cats indoors during fireworks, even outdoor cats
- Walk your dog earlier in the day to help expend excess energy and lessen the chances of an accident in the house
- To counteract the cacophony outdoors, lower the blinds and turn on the TV or play soothing music for your pet
- If your pet is extra-anxious, consider purchasing a Thundershirt for him or her to wear this 4th of July
- Ensure that all spent fireworks are picked up before letting your pet outside the next morning; even a tiny amount can be toxic if ingested
Celebrating At Home: Pet Proof Your Outdoor Celebration
An outdoor barbecue or party on the 4th of July is the perfect way to enjoy the sunshine and the company of family, friends, and neighbors. With a little planning, we can make these events safe and fun for our four-legged friends as well.
Food Safety – Many of the delicious items we look forward to at summer parties – such as grapes, onions, avocado, and alcohol – are toxic to pets. Always keep food and garbage in covered containers and clean up any spills as quickly as possible to avoid potential health hazards for your pet.
Beggars Can’t Be Choosers – Be wary of the kindly partygoer who tries to slip a table scrap or two to your begging pet. Consider putting out a small bowl of pet-safe snacks for your more generous guests to hand out when faced with “puppy-dog eyes”.
Grilling – We hope this goes without saying, but keep your pet away from the barbeque and it’s associated items. Lighter fluid and charcoal are extremely toxic to pets.
Just In Case…
We’ve all heard the horror-stories of pets on the fourth of July running away in fright during fireworks displays, leaping over fences or ripping screen doors to shreds in an effort to flee the terrifying sounds. Always have properly fitting collars with ID tags on your pets and please have him or her microchipped if you have not already done so. Contact us for more info.