You may look forward to July Fourth festivities, such as backyard barbecues, pool parties, and fireworks, but this patriotic holiday can be perilous for pets. Our Milford Animal Hospital team shares six common July Fourth pet hazards and tips to help keep your pet safe and stress-free. 

#1: Fireworks and pets 

You may dread the July Fourth holiday because fireworks’ loud noises and bright flashes extremely distress your pet. Most pets do not appreciate fireworks’ ear-splitting booms, and many suffer from noise aversion (i.e., a fear of loud noises). To help your pet cope with noise aversion, try the following:

  • Create a safe room — Providing a safe retreat for your pet can be greatly comforting, especially when they can curl up in a cozy bed with their favorite toy or treat.
  • Apply a compression wrap — A compression wrap applies pressure to calming points on your pet’s body, providing anxiety relief.
  • Distract your pet — Distract your pet by providing them with toys, treats, and attention, which help keep your furry pal’s mind off the explosive booms overhead. 
  • Administer medication — Pets who still remain anxious despite these management techniques may benefit from anti-anxiety medications and supplements. 

#2: Heatstroke and pets 

Summer’s high temperatures and humidity levels can cause a pet to experience heatstroke, especially those with thick fur or breathing difficulties. If your pet is joining your backyard barbecue, ensure they have access to plenty of water and a cool, shaded place to rest. When your pet is outside during your July Fourth festivities, monitor them for early heatstroke signs, and take action at the first hint of overheating. Heatstroke signs can include:

  • Excessive panting
  • Thick, ropy drool
  • Lethargy
  • Dizziness
  • Incoordination 
  • Bright red gum and tongue color
  • Collapse
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea
  • Seizures
  • Coma

#3: Toxic foods and pets 

Cookouts are a July Fourth festivity that hungry pets can appreciate. These celebrations usually center around the grill, and those enticing food aromas naturally attract pets. A hungry pet may lose control and snatch food straight off the grill, which could result in painful burns. If your pet will be mingling during your July Fourth cookout, ensure your guests know they should give no people food to your pet. In addition, many of the foods we enjoy during these celebrations can be harmful to pets, including:

  • Chocolate
  • Grapes 
  • Onions
  • Avocados
  • Alcohol
  • Corncobs
  • Bones 

#4: Lost pets

July Fourth celebrations’ noise and commotion can overwhelm your pet, causing them to become disoriented and attempt to escape. Remember to keep your pet safely contained and supervised to prevent them from getting injured, or running away and becoming lost. To be prepared if your pet gets loose, ensure they can be identified by using the following: 

  • Collar and tag — Ensure your pet’s collar fits securely and has an attached tag with your current contact information. However, if your pet is in a frantic state, they can lose their collar and tag.
  • Microchip — Microchipping is a safe, simple, and quick procedure through which your veterinarian injects a tiny chip under your pet’s skin, near their neck. The microchip contains a number that refers to your contact information in a database. Should your pet become lost, the organization that finds your pet scans their chip to access your contact information. Microchipping gives you added peace of mind, and greatly increases the likelihood that you and your pet will be reunited. 

#5: Pets and parasites 

Creepy-crawly pests, including mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, intestinal worms, and heartworms, can hitch a ride on your pet, and these little guys are everywhere, always looking for their next meal. These bugs and pesky parasites thrive in summer’s hot, humid conditions and can transmit serious diseases to your pet. All pets, including those who live indoors, should receive year-round preventive medication to stay protected. 

#6: A pool poses problems for pets 

Not all pets are natural swimmers, and if your July Fourth celebration is held around a pool, you must remain vigilant to their whereabouts. An unsupervised pet who decides to take a dip is susceptible to drowning if they are not able to swim or climb out of the pool on their own. If you have a pool, ensure your pet’s water safety by installing barriers, and dressing your four-legged friend in a life jacket if they are not a strong swimmer.

Enjoy your July Fourth festivities and prevent a pet emergency by taking action to protect your pet from these common holiday hazards. If your pet suffers from noise aversion, contact Milford Animal Hospital for medication to calm your furry pal’s anxiety.