The Fourth of July!

The Fourth of July, America's Independence Day, is cause for celebration but that celebration can lead to problems for dogs and cats. It's so important to keep them safe.

Picnics and barbecues are fun for the family but be careful of what sorts of food your pets eat. If friends and relatives are likely to feed them from the table, ask them in advance not to do that and keep you dog or cat in another room while food is being served. The last thing you want is a visit to the Emergency clinic with a sick pet.

The biggest problem of the holiday is the fireworks. If they sound loud to us, imagine how they must sound to dogs and cats whose hearing is so much more sensitive than ours!  If you're going to an outdoor fireworks display, please leave your pet safely at home. Being that close to the sound is even more frightening for sensitive ears and your pet is liable to bolt and run our of fear, no matter how well-mannered he is. To be sure that your pet is protected, he or she should be wearing a name tag as well as be microchipped. Don't forget to register the microchip. It does no good if a veterinarian or shelter reads the chip and can't find the owner. Do not leave pets outside. Keep them safely indoors!

Photo:  ThunderShirt

Even inside your home, the sound of fireworks from public displays in the area, or neighbors who insist upon setting off their own, is very upsetting to most dogs and cats. They often hide in the bathroom, behind the toilet if they can fit.  And they shake from fear.  Some are so afraid that they will bolt out of the house.

Do not be afraid to reassure your pet and try to distract him, although that's not always possible. You certainly should not yell at them. They're already frightened. There's never a need to yell. Being wrapped in something snug can make your dog or cat feel more secure.  I often recommend ThunderShirt, which is available for dogs and cats in a variety of sizes. It fits snugly and makes the pet feel secure, rather like a baby swaddled in a blanket. It provides gentle pressure. (It's also a nice solution for cats who are afraid to go to the veterinarian.)

Other such products include the AnxietyWrap and Storm Defender, the latter is a cape for dogs with a  special lining. 

If your pet exhibits more severe symptoms like excessive shaking, not eating, a lot of salivating or even incontinence, speak to your veterinarian about medication. You do not want to use Acepromazine, which will only make the pet sleepy but will not impact anxiety, in fact, they can come out of it even more fearful. Benedryl isn't a good idea, either. It may make your dog sleepy but he's still going to be upset and anxious. Better medications are available from your veterinarian to address the problem.

Photo: ThunderShirt

You can also try desensitizing your pet to the sound. Not just fireworks, but thunder as well if your pet has thunder phobia.  There are a number of places on the internet where you can find recordings of thunder or fireworks that you can play for your pet to slowly accustom him to the sound. 

The Fourth of July doesn't have to be a nightmare for your pet if you are prepared to help keep your pet calm.  Happy Independence Day!!

Summertime and Pet Safety

With the start of the Summer season there's a lot to think of with regard to the safety of your pet.

Be very careful of fleas and ticks. Go over your pet daily and have your veterinarian show you how to safely remove ticks so the head it's left in the pet's body. Be sure you vacuum your house and every place your pet sits or sleep. Wash bedding and toys and check for flea eggs - those dark spots on your pet's skin. There are various safe treatments for fleas on your pet. Again, talk to your veterinarian. Some of the products you can buy over the counter or via e-mail can be poisonous to your pet and that is not anything you want to try!

More people are thinking about traveling with their four-legged family members and spending time in the great outdoors, whether on holiday or in their own backyard. But accidents can happen, some because owners don't know some of the facts of outdoor life with a pet.

On very hot days, your car can heat up like an oven. Even if it's only in the low 70s your car can quickly turn lethal even with the windows cracked open. To prove this to yourself, put a chocolate bar on your dashboard and see how long it takes for the candy to melt. Your pet can die of heatstroke.  Please leave your pet at home while you run errands.  If you're on the road traveling, either pack a meal or use a drive-through window.  Don't leave your pet unattended. 

Alana being walked on a harness by her owner, Claire Clayton

Walk your dog in the early morning and late afternoon.  The hours between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. are when it is hottest. Avoid walking your dog during that time and don't ever put a pet out in the heat!  It's dangerous. If your dog begins to show signs of heatstroke turn fans on him and dunk him in a cold bath to try to bring down his temperature and then rush him to your veterinarian for emergency treatment.  This is no time to let your cat go outdoors into a cat enclosure. It's just as dangerous for kitty. 

Don't walk your dog on pavement or hot top or tar. The rule of thumb is that if it's too hot for the palm of your hand, it's too hot for the pads of your pet's paws. And tar or hot top can adhere to your pet's paws in the heat because it melts. That's dangerous. Don't try to peel it off because you'll peel off the pads of the paws at the same time!!  You can put some petroleum jelly on it but best to go to your veterinarian. Better yet, don't expose your pet to that in the first place.

No matter where you go, your pet should be protected by proper identification in case he gets lost. Dogs and cats have been known to bolt out of cars at rest stops and finding them again can be extremely difficult. You should always travel with recent pictures of your pet in case you have to make posters or show the picture at shelters and veterinary hospitals.  And you should have the name of a veterinarian in the place to which you're going. But you will also need identification for your pet!  I prefer two forms, a microchip that can be read and reunite you with your pet (don't forget to register it!), and an i.d. tag. You can have an extra tag made up if you are, for example, going away for a week or more and have the address of the place where you'll be staying so your pet can be returned to you there.

Aimee prefers to be safely indoors

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With the Fourth of July come firecrackers complete with loud noises that can give thunder a run for its money when it comes to frightening pets. Dogs and cats have far more sensitive hearing that we humans. If it sounds loud to us, imagine how it sounds to your pet!  Just like Thunderphobia, your pet can have the same reaction to fireworks. Many pet owners dread the fireworks, legal or illegal that cause havoc for pet owners with dogs panicking and running or just standing and shaking.  Keep your pet calm, distract him with games and don't react to the noise or he will believe it's even more scary and dangerous.You can use one of the snug-fitting shirts used for Thunderphobia, or adjust an old tee shirt to fit like swaddling on your pet. There are recordings to try to condition your pet to the sound.

If you have a white dog, one with a short hair coat and especially one who is hairless you will have to protect your pet from the sun. He'll need sunscreen. Seeing a sunburned dog is horrifying. And remember that all dogs need fresh cold water to drink.

Put some thought into what you're doing.  If you're going out on a boat, get your pet and appropriately sized lifejacket. 

Photo courtesy of Anne Hudson

And use all of this good weather to get outside with your dog and have fun!  

Happy Summer!

Fourth of July Pet Safety Tips

We all love our pets but sometimes we don't realize how some things we take for granted can be very scary for our pets.

Fourth of July, like many holidays in other countries, are celebrated with fireworks from small to huge displays.  They all share something: LOUD noise.  Some of us aren't fond of fireworks' loud booming but for our dogs and cats it can be absolutely terrifying.  Their hearing is so much more sensitive than ours so it sounds even worse to them and most are scared out of their wits!

While some dogs may tolerate it more than others, those are probably the Sporting (or Gun Dogs) breeds that are trained from puppyhood to get accustomed to the sounds of guns going off so they're not startled during a hunt. For the majority of other pets the sounds are unexpected, painful and scary.

What can you do? First, keep your pets indoors and be sure there's no means of escape.  Many dogs and cats get frightened, run off and are either hit by cars or land in a shelter if they're found. Keep you pets safe and be sure they're microchipped, the microchip is registered and that they also have a tag so you can be reunited with your pet.  There are.just4mypet.com free tags if price is an object. One such place is http://www.just4mypet.com  They will do a simple tag and that's all you really need. 
This isn't just for dogs, this is for your cat as well. 


And your cat should be wearing a durable, breakaway collar.  Your dog, too, needs either a collar or a harness.                             

It's entirely possible to encourage a conditioned response in your pet.  You can find a recording of fireworks or thunder to help acclimate you pet to the sounds, slowly, and then building on it.

Another thing that's often helpful is a Thundershirt or Anxiety Wrap. It snugly fits your pet and makes him feel safe. It works in the short term, not the long term but can be helpful when used for fireworks displays.  

Taking your pet along to fireworks displays is not a very good idea.

Your cat may disappear within the house.  Cats and small dogs are frequently found in the bathroom, hiding behind the toilet. There may be something about plumbing that makes this feel safe, perhaps it mitigates the sound.

Another thing you might try is playing with your dog or cat to distract him. Sometimes just being "normal" can work wonders and reward that calm behavior with a treat.

If you're having a party, be sure food and decorations are out of the way of curious pets.  And all of that commotion may be too much for your pet. In that case, confine your pet to one room with a TV or Radio for company but NOT tuned to a channel covering the 4th of July celebrations!  

With a little careful planning, you can make the holiday tolerable for pets.