Fourth of July Safety Tips
Credits to the ASPCA
For many people, nothing beats lounging in
the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the
four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to
reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks,
in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your
pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:
·
Never
leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets.
If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely
depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a
possibility in severe cases.
·
Do not
apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled
specifically for use on animals.
Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea,
excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains
DEET can lead to neurological problems.
·
Always
keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could
potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even
kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if
ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system
depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing
problems could develop.
·
Keep
your pets on their normal diet. Any change,
even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is
particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems
and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions,
chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all
be potentially toxic to companion animals.
·
Do not
put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent substance contained in these
products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal
irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could
occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
·
Keep
citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly
even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause
aspiration pneumonia in pets.
·
Never
use fireworks around pets! While
exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma
to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger.
Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate,
arsenic and other heavy metals.
·
Loud,
crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence
Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet,
sheltered and escape-proof area at home.
