How to Have 4th of July Dog Safety

Sunny Summer months mean outdoor activities and holiday celebrations. Naturally we humans want to share the sun and fun with our dogs! We enjoy a great 4th of July picnic throwing frisbees, sharing great treats, and watching fireworks. But it's so important to have a safe 4th of July with our dog and loyal companion. Sometimes we forget these outdoor activities can become extremely frightening to our dog or any animal. The heat, very loud noises, unfamiliar people and other stressors can cause extreme stress to our dogs and cats. Every year during the 4th of July holiday, animal shelters experience an alarming upsurge in the number of "strays" found by animal control. These dogs have come to be known as "July 4th dogs". Please take sensible precautions and have a safe 4th of July with your dog.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
   Happy 4th!

   Please NEVER leave your dog or any animal in an unattended parked car. The temperatures in a car can exceed 100 degrees in just a few minutes. Heat exposure in dogs can result in organ damage, heart arrhythmia and sudden death. It is inhumane and illegal to leave a pet unattended in a parked car.

2. 
   Enjoying the shade.

   Dogs and humans can suffer from heat stroke. Keep your dog in the shade during warm weather. Dogs do not cool off as humans do. The only place they have sweat glands is on the pads of their feet. The main way dogs cool off is by panting. And even panting is not efficient enough to cool off a dog in hot weather. Keeping your pet in the shade during hot weather is a good rule of thumb.

3. 
   Keeping cool!

   Keep your pet hydrated. Always have a generous amount of fresh water available. During 4th of July activities, keep a fresh bottle of water handy just for your dog. Also keep the water bowl in the shade to keep water cool. Fill the water bowl with half water and half ice. Dehydration is very dangerous for your dog.

4. 
   Enjoying the 4th of July.

   During the noisy 4th of July celebrations and fireworks, pets can become frightened and run away. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar that fits. Also be sure to have the proper identification on the dog tags. Another good way of identification is to microchip your pet. Each year during the 4th of July holiday, animal shelters experience an upsurge in "strays" found by animal control. During this phenomenon the dogs have come to be known as "July 4th Dogs". It is so much fun to enjoy holiday celebrations with our pets. It is not fun to try and find our scared and lost pets.

5. 
   Happy 4th!

   Consider the temperament of your dog. Many dogs are frightened by thunderstorms and other loud noises. Loud and unfamiliar noises of fireworks and July 4th celebrations can scare your pet. Leaving your dog indoors may be a safer alternative and preferably not left alone. If your dog has to be left alone, leave a TV or radio on to disguise the loud noises of the holiday celebrations.

6. 
   Happy 4th of July 2009!

   With these tips you can have a happy and safe 4th of July with your dog!

Tips & Warnings

• Eight to 10 million pets in the U.S. are lost each year.
• NEVER leave your pet in an unattended parked car!!

[voldberg]

on 11/16/2009 Great tips for pet safety.

[jenniesworld]

on 11/3/2009 Great tips for pet safety. I will keep these in mind for my dogs all year. Safety first for my babies. Five*'s and I recommend you to others :-)

[drhann49]

on 9/18/2009 Good reminder for the beings. Fire works nights is time for me to go under the bed :(
4paws and 1 tail up.

[qcowart]

on 8/1/2009 Great article. Many of my pet sitting clients' dogs hate the 4th of July. Thanks!

[cdclocks]

on 7/10/2009 ...definitely a lot of extra stimulation on July 4th. ...sweet puppy sleeps like a baby after all the people have gone and the fireworks stop. :-)