As the holiday festivities start to kick off, it’s time to make sure your pets are safe while you start to celebrate. The 4th of July is a time for fireworks and barbeques but with those fun festivities come danger.
Dr. Sarah Wooten is a veterinarian with Pumpkin Pet Insurance and spoke about the dangers that fireworks can have with your pets, “So fireworks are really fun for humans right? We can really enjoy these things, however they can be completely and utterly bewildering and terrifying for dogs and cats.”
According to Dr. Wooten the loud noise associated with fireworks can result in noise phobias in pets and she explains the signs owners should look for. “When they hear fireworks or thunderstorms they get scared, they get very anxious. And this can manifest in things like clingy behavior, dilated eyes, panting, drooling, not eating, destructive behavior and trying to escape. It’s a really sad mental state for these animals.”
She recommends that you keep your pet at home, or in a safe enclosed space, keep it dark and if you can play music to mask the sound of fireworks.
Fireworks are just one of the dangers that face your pets this 4th of July, Dr. Wooten also warns pet owners to be careful with food when throwing your holiday parties, “So when you’re having your 4th of July barbeque and you’re eating all that delicious fatty food, the steaks, burgers, brats, the sugar and all that stuff; it’s great for you but not so good for your dog. This time of year we do see a lot of dogs come in that have vomiting, diarrhea and some of the more severe ones have gastroenteritis or pancreatitis from eating fatty foods.”
So, when celebrating the holidays this year, it’s important to think about those four legged friends in your home.
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