The July Fourth holiday poses many dangers for your four-legged friend. Before planning your cookout or preparing for your fireworks watch party, take steps to safeguard your pet. Our Boca Midtowne Animal Hospital team offers guidelines to help you and your pet enjoy the patriotic festivities.

Microchip your pet

July Fourth is a busy time of year for animal shelters. Numerous pets have a noise aversion to fireworks, and they panic and run away when the show starts. Microchipping your pet is the best way to ensure they are appropriately identified and greatly increases their chances of a reunion should they go missing. The procedure is simple and relatively pain free, and can easily be performed at your pet’s next wellness visit. Once the chip is in place, your only responsibility is to keep your contact information updated in the microchip’s registry. This allows animal shelter workers to quickly and easily contact you if they find your pet. Your pet should also always wear a collar and legible identification tags with your current contact information.

Keep your pet inside

Keeping your pet inside reduces their risk of going missing on July Fourth. Recommendations to ensure your pet doesn’t venture out on Independence Day include:

  • Securing windows and doors — Ensure your windows and doors are securely closed, and lock your doors if you leave your pet at home while you attend a celebration.
  • Notifying guests — If you host a party, notify your guests that your pet isn’t allowed outside. You can post notes on your entryways to remind you and your guests to watch for your pet when opening doors. 
  • Confining your pet — If your pet is escape-prone or stressed around unfamiliar people, confine them to a quiet room. Provide all their necessary resources, and leave music or white noise playing to help mask the party noise. A food puzzle toy is a great way to distract your pet and keep them entertained. Check on your pet occasionally to ensure they aren’t stressed.

Keep your pet leashed

Some pets are sociable, and don’t want to miss a fun July Fourth adventure. If your pet insists on accompanying you, keep them on a controlled leash to help prevent mishaps. 

Keep your pet cool

July Fourth is hot, especially in Florida. The high temperatures and humidity can lead to heatstroke, a potentially life-threatening situation for your pet. Pets aren’t efficient at cooling themselves, which means they do not handle hot, humid conditions well. Brachycephalic breeds, senior pets, and overweight pets are at highest risk. Recommendations to keep your pet cool during the July Fourth celebration include:

  • Give your pet water — Ensure your pet has access to clean, fresh water at all times. When away from home, bring bottled water and a portable water bowl so you don’t have to worry about finding clean water for your pet.
  • Let your pet rest — Take frequent breaks in cool, well-ventilated areas to ensure your pet doesn’t overheat. Your pet may be excited at a crowded, loud July Fourth celebration, so don’t rely on them to know when they need a break. 
  • Never leave your pet in the car — Temperatures inside a parked car reach dangerous levels quickly. Never leave your pet in an unattended car.
  • Leave your pet at home — If your pet is at high risk for heatstroke, let them stay home and enjoy the air conditioning.
  • Recognize the signs — Monitor your pet for signs, such as excessive panting, drooling, lethargy, red mucous membranes, diarrhea, and collapse, that can indicate overheating.
  • Know how to react — If your pet overheats, responding appropriately can help save their life. Move them to a cool, well-ventilated area, offer them water, and pour lukewarm water over their body. Seek emergency veterinary care immediately.

Keep your pet away from the party food

Cooking out is one of the best parts about July Fourth, but the offerings can be dangerous for your pet. Any change in diet can lead to gastrointestinal (GI) upset in pets, and fatty foods can trigger life-threatening pancreatitis. In addition, many foods, such as chocolate, xylitol-containing baked goods and candies, alcohol, onions, garlic, grapes, and raisins, are toxic to pets. Recommendations to protect your pet from the July Fourth party food include:

  • Keeping your pet leashed — Keep your pet leashed and by your side so you know what goes in their mouth.
  • Keeping trash contained — Ensure your trash is stored in sealed containers so your pet can’t scavenge a dangerous item. 
  • Alerting your guests — Ensure your guests know your pet can’t have table scraps, and ask them to throw away plates and cups when they are finished to prevent your pet from eating discarded food or drink.
  • Offering snacks — Provide pet-friendly snacks so your pet feels included in the July Fourth festivities.

Address your pet’s fireworks phobia

Estimates report that more than a third of pets are affected by noise aversion, and fireworks are a common culprit. Noise aversion is a serious issue for pets that causes a fear response similar to a person’s panic attack. Affected pets experience issues such as emotional trauma, injuries, health problems, and behavioral problems. In addition, they are more likely to develop other stress-related conditions, such as separation anxiety. Addressing the problem as quickly as possible is important to ensure your pet isn’t adversely affected. Recommendations to address your pet’s fireworks phobia include:

  • Creating a quiet zone — Confine your pet to a windowless room before the fireworks start. Play music or white noise to muffle outside noises.
  • Using devices — In some cases, close-fitting vests or headphones can help pets with a fireworks phobia.
  • Desensitization and counterconditioning — You can modify your pet’s behavior through desensitization and counterconditioning techniques. This involves playing a fireworks sound track at a low enough level that your pet doesn’t respond, and gradually increasing the volume at small increments while feeding them or playing their favorite game. This helps them associate the noise with something positive. This can take weeks or months, so ensure you begin training well in advance of the frightening event.
  • Medicating your pet — In severe cases, sedative or anti-anxiety medications are necessary to address a pet’s phobia.

If your pet has a fireworks phobia, contact our Boca Midtowne Animal Hospital team, so we can decide if a sedative or anti-anxiety medication is appropriate to help address their problem.