Essential Dog Safety Tips for the 4th of July Weekend

With Independence Day around the corner, there will be plenty of “kabooms” that can really scare your furry child and they won’t like it one bit. So, you can guess what makes a good dog parent: taking dog safety tips for the 4th of July seriously, well before the fun starts.

Ten Safety Dogmandments

If the first tamed wolves knew their descendants would have to suffer fireworks and pretend they like them for the love of their humans, they’d think: “I haven’t signed up for this. I came only for the elk roast.” And yet, here they are, in our homes, about to witness the party with flattened ears and tails tucked between their hind legs. What’s the least you can do to ensure the celebrations don’t leave a mark on your pet’s health and sanity?

1. Keep your dog away from the noise.
2. Keep your food and alcohol away from your dog.
3. Protect your dog from July heat.
4. Protect your backyard BBQ from your dog.
5. Ensure your dog drinks enough fresh water.
6. Ensure your dog doesn’t drink salt water.
7. Don’t let the bad bugs bite your dog.
8. Don’t let your dog bite citronella bug repellant.
9. Don’t share your human 4^th of July toys.
10. Treat your dog with a new toy that isn’t 4th of July glow jewelry.

No one said that being an alpha human in your pack is easy. Taking full responsibility for your pet’s health and safety is essential. However, know that we’re here to assist you with valuable tips. Here’s the first one: taking your canine to their vet before the holiday weekend for a checkup and professional advice tailored to your dog is paramount. It might be challenging to reach them during the holiday, though. Remember, your vet celebrates, too.

1. Your Dog’s Number 1 July 4^th Enemy – the Noise

Perhaps you know that dogs hear approximately four times better than humans. So, if you think fireworks and shouting following the 4th of July celebrations are loud, your dog thinks that four times more strongly. Noise ranks highly on a list of dog stressors and causes fearful behavior, noise anxiety, and even phobia. Let the number four remind you of this every year.

Ideally, you will keep your beloved dog inside the whole day (except for potty breaks) in a climate-controlled atmosphere while ensuring they have sufficient food and water. True – keeping the dog inside, especially if you have recently moved to the city from the country, is tough. But both of you need to get used to this change for health and safety reasons, especially when it matters the most.

2. Human food is not a dog treat…

The country’s birthday celebration is not an excuse to break consistency in feeding your dog. The vast majority of food humans serve is harmful to dogs, so stay strong and resist their puppy look for their own good. One of the vital dog safety tips for the 4th of July is keeping them away from people foods containing chocolate, onions, juices, and alcoholic drinks. If you have to say: “Bad boy, spit it out!” know that the bad boy is you.

3. Summer Sun

What’s better than leaving your dog to run freely in the July sun? Leaving your pet at home during the hottest part of the day. Take them out for a walk when the sun sets but before the fireworks begin. Spray them with sunscreen specially designed for dogs if your furry friend has short hair and light skin.

4. Beware of hot dog time

Resisting the urge to give your dog BBQ leftovers is one crucial thing. Resisting the urge to allow your dog to come close to a BBQ is another ball game. The danger comes from the heat, smoke, matches, and lighter fluid. For example, chlorates found in many types of matches cause kidney problems and damage to blood cells when ingested by your dog. Lighter fluid harms your dog through skin contact, when inhaled and when ingested.

5. Prepare plenty of fresh water

Quenching thirst on the 4th of July? Cold beer for dog parents and guests, fresh water for good boys and girls. If a dog doesn’t have access to water, they’ll try to drink anything available they think will help them cool down, including unsuitable and harmful drinks.

6. Swims don’t come easy to me

Perhaps your pet is not a dog Olympics swimmer material, and that’s OK. Take into account your dog’s mobility and flexibility, age, and ability to swim if you celebrate Independence Day on a beach. Suit them up accordingly. Their favorite floatation device will help, too. Moreover, control their exposure to salt water even if they’re excellent swimmers. Ingesting too much salt water will imbalance their electrolytes and cause seizures.

7. Thozzze pezzzky bugzzz

Probably the only beings in the world who like mosquitoes are those who eat them and those who study them. Most likely, you and your dog are not among them. Do your best to protect your dog from the bites with the same fervor you spray yourself. However, according the ASPCA, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/fourth-july-safety-tips , make sure its dog-friendly repellant. It will protect them from the annoying itch and from the diseases mosquitoes can transfer to pet animals.

8. What’s good for you is not necessarily good for your dog

The same applies to the most commonly used insect repellants. No matter how joyfully we look forward to summer, insects have the power to dampen that pleasure in a bit(e). Even more so if you consider that citronella candles and oils are toxic to dogs and are one of the most popular and widely used insect repellants.

9. Don’t share your toys

Sounds cruel? It’ll save your dog from indigestion at best and poisoning at worst. Glow sticks and 4^th of July paraphernalia provide so much fun on a hot July night but don’t share them with your dog. When chewed, they are incredibly harmful to your loving pet. Moreover, keep small plastic toys and items away from your dog or vice versa. The 4th of July is fun; choking isn’t.

10. New toy as a distraction

It always works. Not for long, true, but just enough to keep your pet happy and busy inside your pet-proof home. At least during the hottest part of the day. During the noisy and overly shiny firework show. As long as it takes for the smoke to clear away. Keeping your pet inside distracted and content is one of the ultimate dog safety tips for the 4th of July, this and every following year.