FOURTH OF JULY
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. ASPCA experts offer the following tips: * 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, for example, contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing. * Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes and raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals. * 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. For more tips on how to keep your animal companions safe and sound this coming Wednesday, please visit ASPCA online.
How We Help Our Fearful Dog on July 4th
by Abbie Moore, Executive Director
I know we're not alone. Fear of fireworks is very common in dogs, and chances are good that your dog is a lot like Norm. Over the years, we've tried many things; some have worked, some not so much. Of course, not all dogs exhibit the same behaviors in response to fear, and what works for us may not work for you at all. Still, I thought it would be worthwhile to share our experience in the hope that it might help even one of you have a more peaceful July 4th. So, here goes…
Here's wishing you and your family a peaceful Independence Day! |