Memorial Day Safety Tips - Celebrating With Pets
Nothing says sunshine and summertime more than that first
picnic of the year. For many, the summertime fun starts off with a Memorial Day
celebration! Barbecues, picnics, pool parties, fireworks, burgers and apple pie…
Yummy! Still, before you light the grill, sink your teeth into that first juicy
burger, relax by the pool, or wave a sparkler in the air, remember that Fido
may not be as “festivity friendly” as our human friends, and that special
precautions need to be taken.
As with any holiday celebration, the ASPCA recommends
keeping your pets in a safe and quiet place so as not to stress them out during
the party. However, we know that many of you love to include your “Fur Kids” in
the festivities, so we’ve compiled a list of safety tips that will keep you and
Fido healthy, happy, and safe this Memorial Day.
Keep alcoholic beverages up and away from inquisitive noses.
Alcohol can be poisonous to pets, so make sure that all
alcoholic beverages are kept out of reach. In the event that your dog does
ingest an alcoholic beverage, it is recommended that they see a veterinarian
immediately.
Signs & Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include: Fatigue,
lethargy, coordination issues, increased urination
Try to resist your dog’s begging advances… Diet deviations
result in upset tummies!
Although it may be tempting to provide your dog bits of your
burger, hot dog, potato salad, or cupcake, keep in mind that dog’s stomachs
function differently than human. By changing your dog’s normal diet without any
introduction to the new food, you risk diarrhea, vomiting, and one unhappy pup!
Also be careful of toxic foods to pets including: onions, avocado, grapes,
raisins, and chocolate.
Animals’ Hospital Tip: Want your dog to be able to indulge
in a Memorial Day Treat? In many cases, you can make biscuits out of their dog
food by simply adding water and baking. You can also try this super easy
recipe:
Frozen Peanut Butter Yogurt Dog Treats
The perfect snack to cool your pet down after a vigorous
play session!
Ingredients:
32 ounces vanilla yogurt
1 cup peanut butter
Directions:
- Melt the peanut butter in a microwave safe bowl
- Combine the yogurt and melted peanut butter
- Pour the mixture into cupcake papers
- Place in the freezer
- Enjoy!
Use ONLY dog specific bug repellent and sun block.
Never use human insect repellent or sunscreen on your dog. The
formulas are not made with regard to the differences in animal and human skin. In
addition to skin irritation, ingestion can result in drooling, vomiting,
diarrhea, excessive thirst, and lethargy. If you believe that your dog has
ingested bug repellent or sun block, contact your veterinarian immediately.
Keep Fido safe from fire.
Make sure that your pet does not get too close to matches,
candles, lighter fluid, grills, fire pits, or fireworks and sparklers. All of
these can result in serious burns. In addition lighter fluid and citronella candles
can irritate the stomach, lungs, and central nervous system. Before you light
that hot grill, make sure that all of your four legged family members are out
of the way.
Supervise all water sports.
As a general rule, never leave children or pets unsupervised
around a pool, pond, or lake. Just as with humans, not all dogs are natural
born swimmers. If your dog has never been swimming before, it is probably wise
to wait until you are able to focus your full attention on helping them try out
this fun activity. You don’t want a few panicked moments to turn into a
lifetime fear of water. In addition, make sure that your pet isn’t viewing the
pool as a giant water bowl. Most swimming pools contain chlorine and other
toxic chemicals that can cause stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea and poisoning.
Keep Fido legal.
If traveling with your pet, make sure to take identification
and their health records including their current Rabies certificate. Make sure
that they are wearing a sturdy collar and tags that clearly state their name,
and a way to contact you in the event that they become loose or lost. Micro Chipping
is a great way to ensure that they come home in the event that they manage to
lose their collar.
Hot cars just aren't cool…
Unlike humans who can sweat to cool off, dogs rely simply on
panting to keep their temperature down. Cars can turn into ovens very quickly
in hot temperatures, so make sure that your pet does not spend time inside of
one alone! It only takes a few minutes for the inside of your car to get
excessively hot and turn into a sauna. Avoid heat stroke – keep Fido cool!
Always provide plenty of water.
Just like us, your pet’s thirst will increase in warmer
temperatures, especially when they are running around and playing with other
dogs or children. Make sure that your pet always has access to a bowl of fresh,
cool water to prevent dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke.
Be prepared – for any kind of weather!
Rain or shine, your dog needs to be able to get out of the
elements. Make sure that there is a shady or covered spot that your dog can
utilize to cool down or keep dry!
Prevent a bolting pup – make sure Fido can avoid the crowds
and noise.
Not all pets are super social and willing to interact. While
your pet may love the hustle and bustle of a family picnic, it is important to provide
them a place to get away from the crowd and rest if they’d like. In addition,
if your pet is afraid of fireworks or loud noises, it is best to provide a
safe, quiet room that they can relax in. No pet owner wants to spend the night
looking for a startled dog or cat who has run away out of stress or fear.
Make sure all fences, doors, and gates remain closed.
Memorial Day is a high traffic holiday in which many people
will be coming in and out of the house and backyard. Remind your guests that
you have a dog and therefore that the gates and doors must remain closed. This
will ensure that your dog does not escape your yard and run into the
neighborhood, or worse, the street.
Take precautions from unwanted litters.
In the event that your dog is not spayed or neutered it may
be a good idea to keep them home from the community picnic. In an event as unpredictable
as this, it is impossible to know who else (two legged or four) that will be
there. In addition to there being the risk of two unaltered male dogs fighting,
there is also always the risk of your unaltered female becoming too friendly
with a male suitor. As always, to prevent an unplanned litter, we recommend
spaying or neutering!
As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something
poisonous from the picnic table, pool, or yard, please contact your
veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center Hotline at (888)
426-4435.
We hope that you and your pets have a happy, healthy, and
safe Memorial Day weekend and don’t forget to thank a Veteran!
