As we draw closer to Fourth of July weekend it’s important to take into account the different precautions you should take to keep your furry family members safe.

• Maintain your dog’s normal diet: I know it can be tempting to throw them a few scraps here and there but keep in mind that the food we eat can be poison to pups. Foods like Avocados, Cherry pits, Onions, Grapes, Walnuts and Raisins can be toxic.
• Keep alcoholic drinks out of reach: Alcohol can be highly poisonous to pets and can cause them to become inebriated, weak and disoriented. Dogs intolerance to alcohol is greatly affected by their size. It takes way less alcohol to intoxicate and poison and adult dog opposed to an adult human.
• Avoid using human products on your pets: Sunscreen and Insect repellent that is not specifically labeled for use on pets can cause a plethora of medical problems. Improper use of human brand sunscreen can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. Insect repellents containing the ingredient DEET can cause neurological damage in dogs.
• Keep glow sticks and glow jewelry away from pets: Although the bioluminescent chemicals are not highly toxic they can still cause gastrointestinal issues and ingesting the plastic can cause intestinal blockage.
• Be prepared for an anxious dog: The loud bangs and flashes caused by fireworks can be very traumatizing and frightening for some dogs. It is important to keep your dog in a secure comfortable place that they are familiar with. If they have a kennel you can secure them in their with a blanket over the top to eliminate outside distractions. Another way to soothe them is by playing the TV or music in the background, this will make for more ambient noise and distract them from the commotion outside. Keeping the blinds and curtains drawn will also block outside lights.