Celebrate Independence Day, Keep Your Pet Safe

Print Email Share TWITTER FACEBOOK

reggieworld.com

You may be excited for the food, fun, sun and fireworks this Independence Day--and guess what, your pet is, too. But, the food, heat, excitement and blasts of those fireworks could put a damper on your pet's holiday weekend.

So, Veterinarians at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania have the following tips to help keep your pets safe:

Keep your pet indoors in a quiet secure place during fireworks (pull blinds or window coverings). Follow your dog’s cue to help him “hide” in a favorite room or under a desk, complete with chew toys. Turn on the radio or TV to muffle outside noises.
Do not leave your dog unattended in the pool area. Not all dogs can swim – they can drown if they fall into the water.
Use a heavy screen on windows or keep them closed if you have cats. During the summer, the number of cats suffering from “high rise” syndrome, or falling from windows, increases dramatically. Contrary to myth, cats do not land on their feet when falling from heights.
Keep dogs away from picnic garbage. Ingesting corncobs and chicken and other bones can be life-threatening. Also, the peels, fruit, and seeds of citrus plants contain varying amounts of citric acid, limonin, and volatile oils that can cause gastrointestinal irritation and result in vomiting and diarrhea, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. The stems, leaves, and seeds of fruit contain cyanogenic glycosides that can cause vomiting and loss of appetite when eaten in large amounts. In severe cases, weakness, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation, shock, and even death can occur.
Do not leave your pet alone in your car. Vehicles heat quickly in the sun, and animals left in them can succumb to heat stroke in a very short time. Heatstroke is life threatening for both dogs and cats. Signs to watch for are: heavy, loud breathing, a staggering gait, and a bright red tongue or gum tissue. If heat stroke is suspected, get the animal to a cool place, put cold compresses on his belly, and contact your veterinarian.
Don’t let your dog exercise in hot weather. If you want to run with your dog, do it in the cool hours of the early morning or late evening.
Be sure that your pet’s vaccinations are up to date. Parvo virus, an illness that flourishes in hot weather, can be fatal to dogs that have not received their vaccinations. Also, be sure your pet’s rabies vaccinations are current.
Use heartworm medication. If your dog hasn’t been tested for heartworm this year, see your veterinarian. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes, but it can be prevented by using a monthly preventive between June and November.
Brush your pet daily to check for fleas and ticks. Ticks can carry infectious diseases and fleas can cause allergic reactions and “hot spots” in dogs. Hot spots are large, wet lesions that appear suddenly in areas where the dog has scratched. See your veterinarian for flea and tick preventives or if a hot spot appears.