As the 4th of July holiday approaches, many of us are excited to celebrate with friends and family, including our four-legged family. However, your pet actually prefers to show off their patriotic paws at home, away from loud fireworks and dangerous heat.
If you must bring your pet to the celebration, keep these five tips in mind:
Avoid giving your pet table food, even though it’s a holiday. Changes in diet, even for one day, can upset your pets stomach. Remember, items such as onions, chocolate, avocado, grapes, and salt among others can be potentially toxic to your pet.- Keep alcoholic drinks out of pets reach. These drinks can smell appealing to your dog or cat but if ingested, could lead to intoxication, coma, and even death. Yes, even beer is toxic; fermented hops and ethanol are poisonous to dogs and cats.
- Speaking of drinks, it’s important to make sure your pet has a clean source of water available at all times.
- Don’t share your insect repellent or sunscreen with your pet. While it isn’t toxic to you, it could be to your pet leading to vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. Many contain DEET, which could also lead to neurological issues. If it doesn’t specifically say ‘safe for pets’ assume it isn’t.
- Keep your pet away from fireworks. The safest place for your pet is at home, not in a crowded, confusing and noisy place. If you are hosting a fireworks show at home, setup your pet in a quiet room such as a basement or back bedroom. Give them an enrichment activity to keep them busy such as a Kong stuffed with peanut butter. You can also mask the sound with relaxation music.
We cannot stress enough that loud and crowded celebrations are not your pet’s idea of a good time. This Fourth of July let your pet relax and enjoy the special day in a safe, secure, and quiet place within their home. The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando wishes you and your pets a happy and safe holiday.
The Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando will be closed on Monday, July 4th.
