The 4th of July is just around the corner. If you’re getting ready to celebrate, take a moment to think about your companion animals who may not enjoy the day as much as you.
Give them a place to hide from fireworks
While fireworks are fun for us, the loud noises and bright lights can be terrifying for our companion animals. Keep them safe this 4th July by following these simple tips:
- If you’re going to a display, leave animals at home where they will be safe.
- Walk dogs early in the day when there is no risk of fireworks going off. Spooked animals may run away.
- Ensure dogs and cats are wearing a collar and have a microchip with up to date details so that they are identifiable if they run away.
- Bring animals inside if possible, that’s dogs and cats, as well as small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs.
- Provide shelter and quiet spots for them to hide if they need and give them space.
- Close curtains and turn on the TV or radio to block out the fireworks.
Provide space away from visitors
If you’re having a party or more people than normal in your house, consider that your companion animals may not like the extra attention. This is especially true if there are kids around trying to stroke or play with them. Make sure you give them time and a place to hide away from the crowds so they can relax and de-stress.
Hide the treats
If there are more tasty treats around than normal, make sure you keep them out of reach of animals. Just some of the food that is harmful to dogs include:
- Chocolate
- Grapes and raisins
- Corn on the cob
- Cooked bones
- Onions and garlic
- Avocado
- Alcohol
These foods can be poisonous or pose a choking hazard. If your dog gets hold of any of these foods, you may end up spending your 4th of July in the vets.
Save the dressing up for yourself
While it may be tempting to dress your companions up in fun 4th of July outfits, remember many animals find this stressful. It’s not fair to add this extra stress, and in the case of glow sticks and other accessories, it can be dangerous and lead to animals ingesting chemicals and bits of plastic. Save it for yourself!
Keep calm
Animals feed off our emotions. Keep calm and avoid getting stressed with all the celebrations, particularly fireworks and other noisy periods. This will help keep animals calm and show them that there is nothing to worry about.