Fourth of July- Pet PSA

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Fourth of July is a booming time for shelters and emergency veterinary clinics. (Like that? No more puns, I promise.) Aside from the obvious- dogs eating corn cobs or too many hamburgers, there are several less often thought of dangers during this holiday. The problems of heat stroke and drowning were covered in an earlier blog entry, but don’t forget the dangers of fireworks.

For you, it’s a loud, smoky display of patriotism. For your dog, it may be Armageddon. This is one of the busiest days for shelters as thousands of terrified dogs across the country flee their homes and end up lost, and all too often injured by cars while running for their lives. Pets are even more sensitive to sound and smell than we are, so to have the unexpected stimulus of a fireworks show can send sensitive dogs and cats over the edge.

To many people it doesn’t even occur to them that this could be a problem. Many fireworks displays are preceded by big parties at a park and seem like the perfect place to take your dog for a fun afternoon. If you have a mellow dog who enjoys the socialization and allows himself to be reassured by you, go forth and enjoy. But if you’re not sure how they will react, leave Rover at home while you go to the show and take a few simple steps to ensure his or her safety:

Bring pets indoors for the night. Even if they are frightened, they won’t be able to jump the fence and take off. Better yet, run the air conditioner or a radio/TV to mask outdoor sounds. Distract them with an especially good chew toy or treat.

If you know your dog has a severe phobia, ask your vet about sedation in the form of OTC meds, prescription tranquilizers, or homeopathic remedies. If your dog appears agitated, shaky, or starts to pant, be soothing but don’t force them to sit with you if they want to pace or hide under the bed. Allow them to find what is reassuring to them.

Regardless of where your pet spends the holiday, take this as an opportunity to check that their tags are still on their collar and up to date, and if they aren’t microchipped, have that done at your next vet appointment. You never know when they’re going to sneak out on you, holiday or no.

And to belabor the obvious, if you have a dachshund who likes to dig after prey, maybe keep them away from the explosives too.

-jesvet