For many people, the Fourth of July means barbecuing and fireworks with friends and family. While it may seem like a great idea to include your furry family in the festivities, it may be best to leave the pets safely at home and behind secure doors while you’re enjoying the holiday.
You may be wondering, “why? My dog loves going everywhere with me: to the breweries, kayaking, hiking, and all of our adventures!” And that’s wonderful, but unlike people, pets don’t associate the noise, flashes, and burning smell of pyrotechnics with celebrations. In fact, The American Humane Association reports that July 5 is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters because they are “inundated with pets that panicked at the noise of firecrackers and fled into the night, winding up lost, injured or killed.”
So, while putting the finishing touches on your planned celebration, please take a moment to consider your pets and prevent your holiday celebration from turning into a tragedy.
Here are 10 tips on how to keep your pet from panicking this Fourth of July:
1. Prepare for the Worst
Make sure your dog has identification tags with up-to-date information & that your contact information in the microchip registry is up-to-date. Take a current photo, just in case!
2. Leave Dogs at Home and Indoors During Festivities
It may seem obvious, but even if your dog is used to being outside, there’s great risk of pets becoming spooked and running away from fireworks or other loud noises. The safest place for your dog is at home, not in a crowded, unfamiliar and noisy place. Consider putting your dog in a safe, escape-proof room or crate during parties and fireworks. If you’re hosting guests, ask them to help keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t escape. Placing notes on exit doors and gates can help both you and your guests remain vigilant.
3. Keep Alcoholic Drinks Away from Dogs
While they may be an important staple in your Independence Day festivities, alcoholic drinks are poisonous to dogs. If your dog drinks alcohol, they can become dangerously intoxicated, go into a coma, or in severe cases, die from respiratory failure. Yes, even beer is toxic; fermented hops and ethanol are poisonous to dogs.
4. NEVER use Fireworks Around Dogs
While it may be obvious that lit fireworks can pose a danger to curious pets, even unused fireworks can be hazardous. Some fireworks contain potentially toxic substances such as arsenic, potassium nitrate, and other heavy metals. After the festivities, check your yard for fireworks debris before allowing your dog outside to play or relax. Even if you didn’t set off fireworks yourself, debris can make its way into your yard, where curious animals may pick it up to play with or eat.
5. Don’t Put Insect Repellant on Dogs that isn’t Specifically for Pet Use
What isn’t toxic to humans may be toxic to animals. For instance, even a minimal amount of the common insecticide DEET may cause severe neurological issues in dogs. The same applies to applying “people” sunscreen on your pet. According to the ASPCA, even essential oils, candles, insect coils and other citronella-based repellants may be irritating toxins to pets. The result of inhalation can cause severe respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, and ingestion can harm your pet’s nervous system, so be sure to check your ingredients or only use products that are specifically formulated for pets.
6. Don’t Give Dogs “People Food”
If you are having a backyard barbeque, you may be tempted to slip some snacks to your dog, but there are a number of festive foods that could harm your pet. For example, onions, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough, chocolate & alcohol are all possible hazards for dogs.
7. Keep Dogs Away from Matches and Lighter Fluid
When it comes to grilling, it’s not just the festive food items that may be harmful to our furry friends. Some matches contain a substance called chlorate, which can damage blood cells, impair respiration, and even cause kidney disease. Lighter fluid can irritate your dog’s skin, and if ingested can cause GI upset and central nervous system depression. Inhaling lighter fluid can result in breathing difficulties and aspiration pneumonia.
8. Don’t Dress-Up Dogs in Glow Jewelry
It might look cute and your dog might enjoy the attention, but he could chew up and swallow the plastic adornments. The ASPCA states that while not highly toxic, “excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestion, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.”
9. Keep Dogs Cool and Comfortable
Daytime festivities can be dangerous due to too much sun, heat, or humidity. Never leave your dog in your car when it’s warm outside. Vehicle interiors heat up much faster than the air around them, and even a short time in a locked car can be dangerous. It’s best to keep them inside your home when it’s extremely hot/humid, but it they must be outdoors make sure they have access to shady spots and plenty of water, don’t leave them outside for extended periods in hot weather, and know the signs of overheating.
10. A Tired Dog is a Good Dog, and a Trained Dog is Even Better
It’s a good idea to make sure your dog is well-exercised in the hours leading up to July 4th festivities. Try an early morning hike or an afternoon swim. A tired pet will be calmer and less likely to engage in anxious or disruptive behaviors. Exercise isn’t always enough, though. If your dog has historically been anxious, or if you have reason to expect potentially harmful reactions, consider seeking professional advice or behavioral therapy to properly desensitize your dog and reduce the risk of problems in the future.
Adinna Mullins, a graduate of Cornell University, is a professional Dog trainer & behaviorist, and owner of Blue Ridge Dog Training. You can email Adinna at Adinna@blueridgedogtraining.com or find out more about Blue Ridge Dog Training on Facebook here! Blue Ridge Dog Training is offering an Independence Day discount for 40% off any training packages during the month of July. This includes its Residency Program (aka Board & Train).
Adinna has spent a substantial amount of time as both a volunteer and committee member with the Asheville Humane Society. Since her introduction to canines and the hardships they can often face, due to completely treatable behavior issues, she knew she wanted to assist dogs in some way or another. The deep connection and love she felt with dogs was not only a steady source of comfort, but also motivation. In 2013 Adinna decided to "retire" from her legal career to pursue her passion for dogs full time by founding Blue Ridge Dog Training.
Combined with the many years of personal experience Adinna has had with dogs, she has gone through a highly challenging dog training course with the Canine Trade Group. The course includes hundreds of hours of thorough study of the scientific theories behind the modification of dog behavior and all areas of training from simple to complex. Adinna has also completed a unique training program with Thank Dog! Bootcamp.
Adinna starts all of her training in your home and gradually progresses into having lesson in places full of distractions. This professional, commitment-based training method ensures that your dog will be able to follow your commands anywhere, under any circumstances. She doesn’t just give you a set number of lessons, or provide you a limited amount of help with your dog either. Commitment-based dog training with Adinna means that she will be available to help you until all of your goals are met with you and your dog.
