Summer Fun is Here Again
We're thrilled to have summer return to Southeast, but while sunny hikes with your dog and lazy days with your cat are welcome changes from the snow, remember that celebrations can bring danger to your pets.
Summer BBQs are popular - especially around July 4th. It's important to keep an eye on your pets if they're out enjoying the BBQ with you, and to keep an eye on the grill. An unattended grill can burn curious pets when hot, and even completely cool grills can still pose a hazard. Charcoal briquets and lighter fluid can cause gastrointestinal distress, and even a clean grill with grill cleaner residue can cause chemical burns to your pet's mouth and gastrointestinal tract.
The grill isn't the only danger that might be at your BBQ: alcohol is quite toxic to both cats and dogs, so keep any cups, cans, and containers well out of your pet's reach, and dispose appropriately of both empty alcohol containers and any remaining alcohol. While it may be tempting to share your lunch with your furry friend, remember that lots of meat marinades and rubs contain toxic ingredients, like onion and garlic. Instead of sharing BBQ scraps, consider keeping some of their favorite treats on hand to share, or cook a small portion of plain chicken breast for them to enjoy.
Keeping Pests at Bay
The sun means fun summer adventures, but it also means the mosquitos and no-see-ums are back. Keeping them away is part of a happy day, but be careful when using bug repellant around your pets. DEET, a common ingredient in bug repellant, is toxic to pets can lead to neurological problems. Be careful with more natural options as well, as tea tree oil is often used in natural insect repellants, and is toxic to dogs and cats. Very small amounts of concentrated tea tree oil can be enough to kill your pet.
Sunscreen is also a common pet toxin at this time of year. Zinc oxide and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) are toxic; most sunscreens can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and excessive thirst if ingested. Never apply human sunscreen to your pets, and don't let your pet lick you if you have applied sunscreen to yourself. Dogs can be at risk of sunburn as well, however, so consider getting them sunscreen formulated for dogs, or sun-protective clothing to protect their skin.
Firework Safety
With the beginning of July fast approaching, fireworks will become available again and fill the days and nights with flashes of light and explosions. Fireworks are notorious for being frightening to pets of all kinds, especially cats and dogs. If you know there will be increased firework activity in your neighborhood, plan ahead to make that time as secure and relaxed for your pet as possible.
Make sure your dog has a current license and identifying tags, in case they escape and are found. Do not let your dog outside unsupervised when there is a risk of fireworks going off. Dogs will often try anything to escape frightening sounds, including digging under and jumping over fences, even if they're not normally prone to doing so. If you know your dog will be frightened, discuss possible pharmaceuticals with your vet or try giving them a calming homeopathic supplement for several days before firework displays, like the evening of the 4th of July. JAR has a limited supply of homeopathic Rescue Remedy, which can be given orally for a week prior to stressful events to build up the calming effect for your pet. Always be sure to check with your veterinarian before giving any medication or supplement to your pet.
Give your pet a quiet, dark room to escape to and hide in if they're afraid. If you have to leave the house, consider putting on some soothing music to help drown out or distract from the sound of the fireworks. If you can stay home with your pet, have a nice, relaxing evening together to help them know they're safe.
Find more Fourth of July safety tips for your pets from the ASPCA HERE.
We're thrilled to have summer return to Southeast, but while sunny hikes with your dog and lazy days with your cat are welcome changes from the snow, remember that celebrations can bring danger to your pets.
Summer BBQs are popular - especially around July 4th. It's important to keep an eye on your pets if they're out enjoying the BBQ with you, and to keep an eye on the grill. An unattended grill can burn curious pets when hot, and even completely cool grills can still pose a hazard. Charcoal briquets and lighter fluid can cause gastrointestinal distress, and even a clean grill with grill cleaner residue can cause chemical burns to your pet's mouth and gastrointestinal tract.
The grill isn't the only danger that might be at your BBQ: alcohol is quite toxic to both cats and dogs, so keep any cups, cans, and containers well out of your pet's reach, and dispose appropriately of both empty alcohol containers and any remaining alcohol. While it may be tempting to share your lunch with your furry friend, remember that lots of meat marinades and rubs contain toxic ingredients, like onion and garlic. Instead of sharing BBQ scraps, consider keeping some of their favorite treats on hand to share, or cook a small portion of plain chicken breast for them to enjoy.
Keeping Pests at Bay
The sun means fun summer adventures, but it also means the mosquitos and no-see-ums are back. Keeping them away is part of a happy day, but be careful when using bug repellant around your pets. DEET, a common ingredient in bug repellant, is toxic to pets can lead to neurological problems. Be careful with more natural options as well, as tea tree oil is often used in natural insect repellants, and is toxic to dogs and cats. Very small amounts of concentrated tea tree oil can be enough to kill your pet.
Sunscreen is also a common pet toxin at this time of year. Zinc oxide and para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) are toxic; most sunscreens can cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and excessive thirst if ingested. Never apply human sunscreen to your pets, and don't let your pet lick you if you have applied sunscreen to yourself. Dogs can be at risk of sunburn as well, however, so consider getting them sunscreen formulated for dogs, or sun-protective clothing to protect their skin.
Firework Safety
With the beginning of July fast approaching, fireworks will become available again and fill the days and nights with flashes of light and explosions. Fireworks are notorious for being frightening to pets of all kinds, especially cats and dogs. If you know there will be increased firework activity in your neighborhood, plan ahead to make that time as secure and relaxed for your pet as possible.
Make sure your dog has a current license and identifying tags, in case they escape and are found. Do not let your dog outside unsupervised when there is a risk of fireworks going off. Dogs will often try anything to escape frightening sounds, including digging under and jumping over fences, even if they're not normally prone to doing so. If you know your dog will be frightened, discuss possible pharmaceuticals with your vet or try giving them a calming homeopathic supplement for several days before firework displays, like the evening of the 4th of July. JAR has a limited supply of homeopathic Rescue Remedy, which can be given orally for a week prior to stressful events to build up the calming effect for your pet. Always be sure to check with your veterinarian before giving any medication or supplement to your pet.
Give your pet a quiet, dark room to escape to and hide in if they're afraid. If you have to leave the house, consider putting on some soothing music to help drown out or distract from the sound of the fireworks. If you can stay home with your pet, have a nice, relaxing evening together to help them know they're safe.
Find more Fourth of July safety tips for your pets from the ASPCA HERE.