Fourth of July safety tips

Lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family, and your furbabies, is the ideal for this holiday. While it may seem like a great idea to reward your pets with scraps from the grill and bring them along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and activities can be potentially hazardous to them. Here are some tips on how to keep your furbabies safe on this holiday.

• Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pet severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes, raisins, salt, and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to your dogs and cats.
• Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcohol is potentially poisonous to pets, especially if they are small. Should your pet drink enough of a sweet, tasty cocktail, he can become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed, or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
• Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems, such as seizures.
• Keep citronella candles, insect coils, and tiki torch oil products out of reach. Ingestion can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
• Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic (a poison), and other heavy metals.
• Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets. Your pet can become frightened or disoriented by the loud firework sounds. Please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities, and opt instead to keep them safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered, and escape-proof area at home.
• Be prepared in the event that your pet does escape. Make sure that you have proper identification on your pet in the form of a collar. If your pet has a microchip, make sure that it is registered to your name and you’ve provided the registry with your current address and phone number. It’s a good idea for all your dogs and cats—even indoor-only pets—to always wear a collar with an ID tag that includes your name, current phone number, and any relevant contact or medical information.

I hope these few tips keep your pets safe and happy while you celebrate our Nation’s Independence.  Happy Fourth of July!