The 4th is upon us, and in celebration we want to share some tips from the
ASPCA on how to keep your patriotic pooch safe this Thursday! PLUS, we've got some cutie patootie pics of our happy customers in their holiday best!
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| Milton! |
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| Prana |
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| Toby |
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| Wolfie |
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| Dragon |
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| Felix |
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| Beatrice |
Fourth of July Safety Tips
For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the
Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged
members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward
Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks,
in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous
to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the
following tips:
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Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them.
Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the
animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or
could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a
possibility in severe cases.
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Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals.
Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting,
diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent
that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
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Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach.
Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially
damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney
disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if
ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous
system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and
breathing problems could develop.
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Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any
change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and
diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more
delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in
mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes &
raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion
animals.
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Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While
the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly
toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still
result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from
swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
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Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach.
Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central
nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration
pneumonia in pets.
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Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure
to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma
to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a
danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including
potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
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Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets,
so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities.
Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet,
sheltered and escape-proof area at home.
