Keep Your Dog Safe This 4th of July

The Independence Day weekend is almost here, and most of us are looking forward to the long weekend and having a fireworks-filled night with friends and family. Unfortunately, what we think is great fun for us is not always fun for our dogs, especially during this holiday.

Each year, countless dogs go missing during the 4th of July holiday because they are so frightened of the loud pops and excitement that they will do anything - including digging holes under fences, knocking out window screens, opening patio doors - to get away from the noise. Other pets become ill when they are allowed to eat human foods that are dangerous to dogs, such as onions, avocado and alcoholic beverages.

Because dogs have such acute hearing and an enhanced sense of smell, the unfamiliar noises and odors of the fireworks put them on high alert. Sporting breeds are particularly vulnerable to this anxiety.

Here are some tips to keep your dogs safe this weekend:

• Do not take your dogs to fireworks displays. Even the calmest of dogs can be unsettled by all the activity taking place.
• Make sure your dog is inside if you are leaving him alone while you go out to celebrate. If he is frightened enough to try to escape the noise, he could injure himself in an attempt to get somewhere safe. If your dog will be unsupervised inside your home, leave the radio or television on so that the fireworks are muffled and not as startling to your pet. You may want to leave a t-shirt or other article of clothing that carries your scent to help reassure him.
• If your dog is generally frightened of thunderstorms, you can almost guarantee that he will be distressed by fireworks. Consult your veterinarian in advance about using a calming treatment such as Rescue(R) Remedy.
• Make sure your dog is wearing identification tags, in case he does get away from you or your home. July 5 is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters. Most pets that run away will end up in shelters, and it will be easier to reunite you with your pet if your pet is wearing tags or is microchipped.
• Do not allow your dog to eat scraps from the barbecue. Foods like onions, tomatoes, grapes, garlic, alcohol, raw potatoes, and others can be extremely harmful, even fatal, to dogs.
• Check your dog thoroughly for any injuries when you return home. Some dogs become so upset by the noise that they chew their skin raw. Other dogs may hurt themselves if they try to escape. Make sure to keep your dog secured in a room that is free of dangers, such as dangling power cords, furniture that is easily tipped over, etc.
• Consider boarding your dog for the weekend if you have to leave your dog during the celebrations and are concerned about his safety - but hurry, many local boarding facilities are booking up fast. If you don't want to board your dog overnight, Unleashed Indoor Dog Park is having a special 4th of July day care special so that your dog can play supervised while you are celebrating.
• Be sure your dog stays hydrated and cool. The forecast for this weekend calls for more hot weather, so your dog needs plenty of fresh, cool water available to him. And of course, never EVER leave a dog unattended in a car. Even with the windows cracked, temperatures and humidity inside a car can cause heat exhaustion within minutes.

If you have any additional tips or warning about Fourth of July safety, please send them to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Have a great holiday weekend!