Pet safety: July 4th

As we approach the Fourth of July, I want to share Dove Lewis’ newsletter.

The Fourth of July holiday is just a few days away and the DoveLewis medical staff is gearing up for one of the busiest weekends of the year.

Here are some tips to help keep pets safe this time of year:

Protect Your Pets at Home, Inside & Out

Loud noises can be very stressful on animals. Keep all of your pets inside when you can’t watch them. Our doctors see patients who have jumped fences, ripped up their paws trying to dig through wooden slats, or torn nails trying to dig under them. If pets successfully escape the yard, they risk being hit by cars, getting in a fight with other animals, or simply becoming lost, alone and afraid. Cats are also often targeted for abuse with fireworks. Make sure your pets have proper identification in the form of ID tags or microchips, so if they do get loose, you can be quickly contacted when they are found. Even inside your pets aren’t 100% safe. Our doctors have treated patients who have jumped right through glass windows, or second-story screen windows and doors. A radio or fan can provide soothing background noise to drown out the sound of fireworks. If your pet is sensitive to firework sounds, it is best if you do not leave them unattended for long periods of time.

Firework & Food Dangers

Fireworks in shiny packages can look like an appetizing snack and can be poisonous to animals. Even though the risk is usually small, pets can be burned from falling fireworks and sparklers. Keep both used and unused fireworks away from pets. And avoid sharing your picnic with your pet – human food can easily create pet stomach problems!

Mild Sedatives

If you know your pet needs sedatives to get through the traumatic firework season, talk to your regular veterinarian about a prescription. If this is the first time you are using a sedative, you will want to test the dosage that works best for your pet well before you predict your pet will be exposed to noisy fireworks. A lot of people ask us if they should give their pets Benadryl to sedate them. Just as with people, Benadryl can either cause a pet to become sleepy or become hyperactive. You don’t know how your individual pet will react to any drug so be sure to try it before it is really needed. As always, talk to your regular vet before giving your pet any medications.

My note:

I want to add that if we as pet owners stay calm, talking normal to fearful pets rather than comforting them (which reinforces the negative behavior), pets will normally calm down and the noise will just be noise, and no longer seen as a threat. I like to say just that to our pets when they are afraid…”You’re OK, it’s just noise”, and it doesn’t take long for them to calm down. I will hold them firmly while watching TV or doing normal things so that they know everything else around them is normal; the noise is not going to hurt them.

It can also help to distract them giving them something else to think about or do. I do not recommend giving treats when an animal is anxious because that could tell them that the fear is OK. Exercise would be a better deterrent to keep them busy and work off the energy that they feel at the moment. Knowing your pet, you may have an even better idea as to how to calm them.

If we are not upset and remain calm, our pets will pick up on that and realize that they are safe. Remember that the opposite is also true.  Animals sense our fear and respond to that as well. Let them know by your actions that it is not a big deal, they are safe, and they will soon believe you.

If your pet gets extremely stressed, it is recommended that you talk to or see their Veterinarian as there may be a medical issue causing the anxiety. Once medical issues are ruled out, training can be resumed, although medication may be necessary temporarily during the training.

Listen to your pet, get to know how they respond to you and their environment, and let them know that you are their leader, caregiver, and that you will keep them safe.