If you have celebrated Independence Day every single July 4th of your life, the things we do that day seem perfectly normal. After all, it’s one of America’s favorite holidays—and it’s a lot of fun. If you look at the things we do on the 4th out of context, though, it can all seem rather strange.
Well, that’s how your pets see it. As far as they are concerned, the Fourth of July starts out like any other summer day. Then people start showing up for the barbeque. Then they stay on until it gets dark. Then the world starts to end.
Really, fireworks are terrifying for pets. To help them have a happy and safe Fourth of July, keep these things in mind.
First, start off the day right. If you are going to be out enjoying the festivities for much of the day, take your dog for a walk or spend time with the cat before leaving them for the day. Some exercise can also help work off nervous energy that will only make fireworks time worse for the little guy.
If you plan to host a barbeque, be sure to keep the human snacks out of your pet’s reach. That goes double for any summertime products like sunscreen that can make your pet really sick. Also, since it’s likely to get hot, make sure your pet has plenty of water throughout the day.
Now comes fireworks time. The best thing you can do is keep your pet inside. If you can keep the curtains or shutters closed, that helps, too. The flash of the fireworks can be just as scary to some pets as the sound. If you are home with your pet while things are exploding outside, talk to her in a soothing voice to help calm her down.
There’s one more important measure your veterinarian can help you with. So many dogs run away on the Fourth of July as they get spooked by fireworks. Your vet can implant a microchip ID in your pet to help you get him back home. Give the vet hospital or clinic a call today to find out more.
Have a wonderful and safe Independence Day!