Oak Cliff is a very special “celebratory” place on July 4th. It’s that time of year when the neighborhood proudly celebrates our American heritage and independence by firing off guns and fireworks in the city limits. July 4th is one of the two days of the year (New Years being the other) that my dogs will willingly put themselves in their kennels and not come out for love or money. Street dogs are smart like that.
In all seriousness, the 4th of July is very traumatic for most dogs, even if you live in the burbs. It is a holiday that results in large numbers of dogs being lost or injured as they try to get away from the noisy, chaotic sounds of fireworks.
This year the 4th falls on a Monday so be prepared for fireworks all weekend long starting Friday night. Unlike being forced to dressed up in silly holiday hats, there is no circumstance where dogs enjoy fireworks; help keep your dog relaxed and safe by providing a safe quiet environment for them. Try not to leave your dogs outside where they can become startled and panicked by the loud, disorienting sounds of fireworks. Keep your dog in a quiet escape proof place in your house. If your dog is crate trained, that is an idea place for them to spend unsupervised time and any time when fireworks are at their most intense.
Help your dog easily find its way home in in the event of an accidental escape by giving them proper ID. Even if you have a house dog, make sure your pet is wearing its collar and has current ID tags encase of an emergency. You all know we love microchips! Again, this is a big holiday for lost, distressed dogs.
The ASPCA has some great tips from everything from diet to sunscreen and mosquito repellent to crowds on the 4th. Follow these safety tips to keep Fido safe and happy this 4th of July. Happy Birthday America!
Fourth of July Safety Tips (from the ASPCA website)
For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your pets. 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 pets 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 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 oil products out of reach. Ingestions 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, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.