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Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Fourth of July pet safety
The Fourth of July is a festive time, but it can be scary for pets. Check out these tips from Pets Best Insurance:
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.
We humans may enjoy all the food and fireworks for the Fourth of July, but they can be a danger to our furry friends. I was glad to get an email of Fourth of July pet safety tips written by Heidi Ganahl, CEO and founder of Camp Bow Wow:
4th of July Pet Safety Tips
1. Make a Plan – If you’re holding a 4th of July party or attending one away from home, plan accordingly. The safest way to keep your pet and guests safe is simply by leaving your pets at home or secured indoors. When it comes time for the fireworks, make sure your pet is secured inside without any escape route – try to mask the loud noises with a radio or TV to help ease your pets stress. 2. Relax & Unwind – To help ease your pet’s stress, spend the afternoon playing with your pet. By tiring them out earlier in the day, they are less likely to become excited too easily after being exhausted. If you do spend the day outside with your pet, always keep in mind that they need shade and plenty of water. 3. No Punch for Pets – We all know we slip our pets a little goody from the table here-and-there, but this holiday you should refrain from feeding them scraps. Certain foods can make them ill and cause stomach issues. Keep Fido on his normal diet of dog food and maybe a treat or bone for being such a good party guest. 4. SPF – Protect your pets from heat and insects that indulge at summer parties. It is possible for pets to be negatively impacted by too much sun, just like humans. However, do not spray your pet with SPF or bug spray UNLESS it is specifically made for use on pets. 5. Pay Attention – Make sure all food, alcohol and ESPECIALLY any fireworks are out of harms way for your pets. If they become curious and don’t have good table manners, your pet may jump and grab something –keep those things on higher tables or inside when you don’t need them. 6. The Day After – Cleaning up and making sure your home and yard is safe after July 4th festivities is essential. What goes up MUST come down – ensure no scraps or fireworks have landed in your yard, even already used fireworks still have dangerous chemicals and toxins still on them.
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