Top 10 Fourth of July
Pet Safety Tips
Happy Fourth of July! As we enjoy fantastic barbecues, beaches, and fireworks today with our family and friends, let’s remember that July 4th can be potentially dangerous for our pets. Fireworks alone can cause a furry wiggle butt to be afraid and many of them run away when they hear the noises.
If you’re a dog owner, please review these important safety tips:
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Never EVER use fireworks around your pets. This seems like a no-brainer but it’s important to reiterate. Fireworks can be extremely hazardous and cause burns or trauma to the face, paws, or other parts of your dog’s body. Also, several types of fireworks may contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
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Keep your dog indoors. The noises around your home are bound to throw your dog into a state of panic which could cause him or her to jump a fence or quickly run away. Keeping them indoors will prevent your dog from escaping.
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Make sure your dog is wearing ID tags and is microchipped. If your pooch does manage to somehow get away, having proper identification that’s up to date is the fastest and easiest way for you to be reunited.
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Do not put glow jewelry on your dog. Dressing up your dog with glow jewelry might make for a great photo opp, but there’s a good chance that your dog will nibble and maybe even swallow the plastic parts. Although the pieces are not highly toxic, there is still a danger. In fact, the ASPCA says “excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.”
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Avoid giving your dog table food. We all love barbecues, including your dog who might try to score some “under the table” treats. But the food you’re eating may include ingredients that are dangerous to dogs including beer, chocolate, onions, avocado, grapes, raisins, and salt.
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Keep your dog away from alcoholic beverages. Remember that alcoholic beverages can actually poison your dog, causing weakness, depression, a coma, and even respiratory failure.
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Keep your dog away from citronella candles and other insect control products. Ingestion of pest control oils can cause stomach irritations and even problems in the central nervous system. More importantly, inhalations are dangerous as well. Your dog could come down with pneumonia just from inhaling these types of oils in the air.
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Keep your dog away from matches and lighter fluid. The ASPCA says that some matches contain chlorates which could result in difficulty breathing, damaged blood cells, and even kidney disease. In addition to lighter fluid irritating the skin, dogs that ingest it may experience gastrointestinal irritation and depression of the central nervous system. Like the insect repellants, pneumonia can result in dogs that inhale lighter fluid.
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Avoid applying sunscreen that isn’t specifically labeled for animals. Ingestion of regular sunscreen may result in drooling, diarrhea, vomiting, excessive thirst, and lethargy.
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Do not take your dog to firework display events. It might sound like fun but in addition to the potential fear and panic that the fireworks may cause in your dog, the large crowd alone might truly scare your dog. It’s best to leave your furry loved one at home in a quiet, escape-free environment.
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This blog post was originally published by Furry Wiggle Butts here.
This article was originally published by the ASPCA here.