Can you guess which day of the year pets get lost the most?
July 5.
The loud booms and shrieks of fireworks (and people) scare pets and they run off and can’t find their way home.
Planning ahead is the key to a more enjoyable holiday for both you and your pet. In this article, we’ll show you how to:
- practice “pet fireworks safety”
- reduce the noise factor that causes anxiety in pets
We’ll acquaint you with potentially toxic party items, and we’ll suggest tips for protecting your pet with a collar, ID tag, and microchip.
Practice Fireworks Safety
Dogs seem to enjoy biting lit fireworks or chewing on spent fireworks. Lit fireworks can cause severe facial trauma and burns to the lips, nose, eyes, or inside of the mouth.
Spent fireworks contain hazardous materials. Even the dense cardboard that fireworks are packaged in can cause gastrointestinal upset when chewed or ingested.
The best preventive is to keep your pet away from fireworks.
Reduce the Noise Factor
The explosive noise from fireworks scares the “pants” off many dogs and cats.
Secure your pet on a leash, or better yet, keep it inside, as far away from the fireworks as possible, in the most sound-proofed space in your home. A good location might be a closest or the basement.
Darken the room and shut the doors and windows (which not only reduces the noise but prevents your pet from running away).
Turn on white noise such as a fan, air conditioner, radio, or television.
Set your pet up with a comfortable bed and something to do to distract him from the noise.
If your pet experiences severe noise anxiety, we can recommend medications that may help decrease anxiety and relax your pet.
Banish Your Pet From Backyard BBQs
Some of our prime picnic supplies spell “danger” for dogs and cats. The last thing you want to do on Independence Day is take an emergency trip to the vet, so keep your pet away from hot BBQ grills than can burn them (especially if they are sniffing around to find out what’s cooking).
Make sure your pet can’t get into any of these toxic items:
- Alcohol and marijuana
- Mosquito repellent
- Corn on the cob
- Raisins and grapes
- Raw and under-cooked meat
- Poultry, beef, and pork bones
- Onions and garlic
- Pie crust
- Chocolate
- Salty snack foods
For details, read these articles on our blog:
Protect your Pet with a Collar, ID tag, and Microchip
You don’t want your pet to be one of the 7.6 million pets who are lost each year.
Even if your pet wears a collar and ID tag, those can fall off. Protect your pet with a collar, ID tag, and properly-registered microchip.
What is a microchip?
Microchips are implantable computer chips no bigger than a grain of rice. Each chip encodes a unique identification number to help reunite you with your lost pet.
The microchip is placed under your pet’s skin with a needle and syringe. The chip receives a radio signal from a scanner and transmits the encoded chip identification number back to the scanner.
Register the microchip
It is important to register your pet’s microchip, to maintain updated contact information, and to provide multiple emergency contacts in case your pet gets lost while you’re out of town.
Give your pet the best chance of being reunited with you. Call us today to schedule an appointment to have your pet microchipped.