July Fourth is right around the corner, which means you’re busy preparing a cookout menu, plotting the best spot to watch the parade, and getting the pool ready for relaxing. However, you should also consider pet safety. While making plans to keep your furry pal safe during the holiday festivities may not top your to-do list, you should ensure everyone enjoys the celebration. To help you plan a pleasant party in which your pet can also partake, our Alpine Animal Hospital team has compiled a list of July Fourth pet safety tips.

#1: Keep your pet confined 

More pets go missing around July Fourth than any other time of year, mainly because of firework-related fear. However, your furry pal can sneak off when your attention is elsewhere, entertaining guests, enjoying s’mores around a fire, or lounging in the pool.

Ensure your pet remains at home by blocking them from doors to the outside, keeping them on a leash when in the yard and other outdoor festivities, and settling them into a cozy bed during the fireworks and party chaos. Keeping your pet indoors as much as possible around July Fourth can prevent them from sniffing out a barbecue three blocks away, or bolting in a panic when the fireworks show starts.

#2: Protect your pet from heatstroke when outdoors

July is one hot month here in Pocatello, and sizzling weather can be deadly to your pet. Although your pet may be a social butterfly who can be trusted to keep their paws off your picnic table, maintain a close eye on them while enjoying your cookout. Your fur-coat-wearing pal can quickly succumb to heatstroke despite having short hair or a white coat. Pets who are overweight, suffer from heart or respiratory problems, or are exceptionally young or old, are more susceptible to overheating in mild conditions, so monitor your pet closely if they fit these criteria. Protect your four-legged friend from heatstroke by:

  • Keeping them hydrated — Offer your pet plenty of fresh, cool water when outside to ensure they stay hydrated. By doing so, you can also help prevent them from drinking stagnant water from ponds, flowerpots, and buckets.
  • Keeping them in the shade — Direct sunlight can generate serious heat, especially if your pet is walking along scorching hot asphalt. Stick to the shade as much as possible, and opt for grassy or wooded paths to avoid blistering pavement.
  • Keep them cool — To keep your pet cool during the summer’s heat, break out the wading pool or sprinkler. If the weather is sweltering, head indoors during the hottest part of the day, only emerging for quick bathroom breaks until conditions improve. 

#3: Stick to your pet’s regular diet

Although your four-legged friend may shadow you from the kitchen to the grill to the picnic table, hoping for a dropped morsel, stick to feeding them their regular diet during the holiday. A sudden diet change can upset your pet’s stomach, and also cause more serious, potentially life-threatening, issues. Refrain from sharing any of these common barbecue foods with your pet:

  • Grilled meat — Charbroiled meats, such as hotdogs, hamburgers, ribs, and steaks, are often the stars of the show on Independence Day. However, keep fatty, seasoned meat away from your pet, no matter how much they beg. Sharing steak fat or rib bones can be a recipe for disaster, as foods high in fat can spur a painful pancreatitis case, while raw or cooked bones can puncture or lodge in your pet’s mouth, throat, or gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
  • Kebabs — When your pet sees a kebab packed full of meat and veggies, they don’t notice the sharp wooden skewer underneath. However, they will eagerly gulp down the entire treat, which can cause a severe injury, depending on the bodily tissues the sharp implement punctures. In addition, if onions are part of the kebabs, these Alliums can cause red blood cell destruction and anemia.
  • Corn on the cob — Corncobs seem like a great chew toy for dogs, but they are inedible and can cause a life-threatening blockage if your pet ingests them.
  • Side salads — Side dishes that contain heavy helpings of mayo, milk, or butter can upset your pet’s stomach, causing vomiting and diarrhea, or leading to pancreatitis. Garlic, onion, and chives often flavor these dishes, which are also dangerous for pets.
  • Chocolate or sugar-free desserts — While you may be eyeing all the goodies on the dessert table, avoid sharing them with your pet, as chocolate, sugar, fat, and xylitol (i.e., a sugar substitute) are unsafe for cats and dogs. Desserts can cause problems ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to severe hypoglycemia and liver failure, so your cat or dog will be much better off if you offer them a pet-safe treat. 

During an Independence Day celebration’s fun, accidents can happen, and your furry pal may snag a T-bone off the grill or play too long in the blazing summer sun. If your pet suffers from a July Fourth-related incident, contact our Alpine Animal Hospital team for help.