Even the most patriotic dogs hate fireworks. The noise from fireworks can cause pups to panic, break leashes, jump fences and act irrational. As much as you want your dog to be by your side during the holiday it just isn’t a great idea. The smells, noise, and flashes are foreign to dogs and instill panic. The American Humane Association reports that July 5 is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters. Why? In a 2005 press release the Indiana Proactive Animal Welfare, Inc. (PAW) stated that animal shelters the day after Fourth of July are “inundated with pets that panicked at the noise of firecrackers and fled into the night, winding up lost, injured or killed.”
So here are 10 canine rules (Per PetMD) for Independence Day:
10. Keep your pup inside. Only let them out to do their business and bring them right back in.
9. Don’t Put Insect Repellant on Your Pet. If it isn’t Specifically for Pet Use
8. Alcoholic Drinks Poison Pets. Keep an eye on your beer.
7. Going to a Fireworks Display? Leave Your Pet at Home!
6. Have Your Pet Properly Identified. They might panic and run due to the noise.
5. Keep Your Pet Away from Glow Jewelry. It’s a choking hazard!
4. NEVER Use Fireworks Around Pets. (Obvious reasons)
3. Don’t Give Your Pet “4th Food” Things often found in festive foods like: onions, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough are all possible hazards for dogs
2. Lighter Fluid and Matches Are Harmful to Pets. The ASPCA lists chlorates as a harmful chemical substance found in some matches that, if ingested, can cause your pet difficulty in breathing, damage blood cells or even cause kidney disease.
1. Citronella Insect Control Products Harm Pets, Too. The result of inhalation can cause severe respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, and ingestion can harm your pet’s nervous system.
Stay safe on this 4th of July and get your Doggo a treat for being such a good girl.
