July Blog

🇺🇸Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips🇺🇸

written by
Yvonne Dagger

   During the pandemic, many people adopted pets. Oh, how wonderful this truly is!
To give a pet a forever loving home is one of the most serving and giving things people can do. Now that things have eased up across America regarding the COVID restrictions because most people have been vaccinated and have adhered to the CDC Guidelines;
more and more people are getting together with family and friends for celebrations. This is also so very wonderful!  However, as wonderful as this may be, we must also be mindful of our pets during the Forth of July Holiday. Below are some helpful tips for new pet owners as well as a refresher for experienced ones.
​According to the ASPCA website..."For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including furry friends. While it may seem like a great idea to reward your pet with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and activities can be potentially hazardous to him. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:

• Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could 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.
• Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
• 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 and liquids such as alcohol, avocado, raisins, grapes, onions, garlic, chives, chocolate, coffee, caffeine, macadamia nuts, citrus, coconut and coconut oil, milk and dairy, nuts like almonds, pecans and walnuts, Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones, Salt and Salty Snack Foods, Xylitol which is an ingredient in chewing gum, candy and store bought baked goods and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
• Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it.While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
• 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 and other heavy metals.
• Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, who can become frightened or disoriented by the sound. 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."🐾🇺🇸

I cannot stress enough how vital it is to remember that some dogs get scared and run away during the 4th of July fireworks. Shelters all across the USA are overwhelmed with runaway dogs and cats during the 4th of July holiday.  We saw this first hand with our beloved beagle, Maggie May. Maggie would scratch, pant, drool and try with all of her might to run away. It saddened Denis and I so much to witness how stressed and frightened she became. Please, make sure you keep your pets secure in an area where they cannot escape if they get startled and want to flee. If you know that your dog gets scared with the sudden loud noises of the fireworks, you can play some calm music or turn on the television for background sound...the experts call this "white noise."  This "white noise" helped so much with Maggie May.  But, it wasn't until after the holiday was over that she calmed down and was "Maggie May" again and we could take a deep breath of relief!
I hope these important tips help you plan your celebrations with your furry friends safety in mind and yours too!!

Whatever you do, Be safe, Be well, Have fun.
​And Celebrate your Independence with your pets safety in mind!!
🇺🇸
Happy Tales to you,
xoxo Yvonne

🐾 🇺🇸 Taken from the ASPCA Website:
​https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/fourth-july-safety-tips