Independence Day is a summer highlight, when friends and family come together to celebrate our nation with food, fireworks, and fun. However, while people are having a wonderful time during the July Fourth festivities, their four-legged companions who join in may run into trouble.

Let’s look at some common July Fourth party problems your pet may face, and how to keep your furry pal safe.

Party problem: Your pet wants to share a plate at the cookout

Solution: Many popular cookout dishes should be paws-off for your furry pal, because they can lead to a multitude of dangerous health concerns, including gastrointestinal (GI) obstructions, pancreatitis, punctures from wooden skewers, and toxicity, should your pet snatch an unattended plate. Common foods that are hazardous for your pet include:

  • Grilled meats — Meat tossed on the grill for that delightful charbroiled taste, such as ribs, chicken legs, steak, or hot dogs, often contains bones or is high in fat. Meat and veggie kebabs stuck on wooden or metal skewers are also a serious danger, especially if your pet swallows the kebab whole.
  • Side dishes — Potato salad, cole slaw, and pasta salads are common cookout dishes, but are often loaded with high-fat mayo, various seasonings, and ingredients that are toxic to pets, like garlic and onions.
  • Desserts — Chocolate-dipped strawberries, grapes from a fruit salad, or chocolate bars for s’mores pose a toxic threat to your furry pal.

If you want to share party food with your pet, give them a few bites of fresh fruit—excluding grapes and raisins—baby carrots from the veggie tray, or a chunk of unseasoned, skinless, boneless chicken breast from the grill.

Party problem: Your pet is seriously noise-averse to fireworks

Solution: Noise phobias, or noise aversion, is seen commonly in pets, although the problem is more common in dogs. Many pets tremble, hide, vocalize, drool, or pace when faced with frightening sounds, and some have such an intense fear of loud noises, such as fireworks, that they may inappropriately eliminate or become destructive, urinating on the floor or chewing at the door. 

Fortunately, many methods are available that can help your furry pal overcome their fear of fireworks and other loud sounds. Techniques and products that may help your pet remain relaxed during loud events include:

  • Calming supplements
  • Compression wraps
  • A quiet room
  • Calming pheromones
  • White noise
  • Desensitization and counterconditioning
  • Anti-anxiety medications

If your pet is noise-averse, whether fireworks, thunderstorms, or any other sounds are the cause, contact our team for help devising a calming protocol.

Party problem: Your pet wants to spend the day outdoors

Solution: While enjoying the July Fourth celebrations together outside is a great way to bond with your pet, danger can develop if you are unprepared. Most importantly, protect your pet from overheating, and do not let them play too hard or for too long, because they can rapidly succumb to heatstroke. Limit your pet’s exercise sessions to the early morning when the temperatures are typically coolest, and head inside if the heat or humidity becomes too much.

While your pet is outside, ensure they have plenty of fresh water and shade, and a well-ventilated area with a cooling breeze to rest. Monitor your pet for heatstroke signs and bring them indoors into the air-conditioning if they show any indication of overheating, such as:

  • Heavy panting
  • Thick, ropey drool
  • Gum color changes
  • Lethargy
  • Disorientation
  • Incoordination
  • Vomiting or diarrhea

By letting your pet cool off before overheating progresses, you can prevent seizures and organ failure, so always keep a close eye on your furry pal when outside in the summer.

Party problem: Your pet is a known door-dasher

Solution: If your home has a revolving door during parties, ensure your pet cannot access any exits. With the combination of barbecued meat aromas, overwhelming guests, and fireworks, it’s a no-brainer that pets may decide to dart through the door. Keep your pet safe and sound at home by confining them to a bedroom or other room, and entertaining them with a food puzzle or long-lasting chew.

More pets go missing from their homes around the July Fourth holiday than any other time of year. Do your best to ensure your pet does not go missing, but more importantly, ensure a happy reunion by scheduling a microchipping appointment with our Shuler Veterinary Clinic team.