Fourth of July is here!

The 4th of July is the perfect time to relax and lounge around with friends and family, including your furry friends! It is important to keep in mind that some festive foods and products could pose a danger to your pet.

Here are some tips from the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center:

• Alcoholic beverages can be very dangerous to your four-legged friend. Your pet could become very weak, depressed or slip into a coma if they drink any alcohol. Respiratory failure and death are also common in several cases.
• Avoid using sunscreen products or insect repellent on your pet. If ingested, it could cause drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy & excessive thirst. Insect repellent containing DEET could even cause neurological issues.
• Always keep matches & lighters away from your pet. Some matches that contain chlorate could damage blood cells and even result in difficulty breathing or kidney disease. Lighter fluid can irritate your furry friends’ skin and if ingested, could produce depression or gastrointestinal issues. If inhaled, breathing problems and aspiration pneumonia could develop.
• To prevent severe indigestion or diarrhea, keep your pet’s diet the same! It is not advised to have you or your guest feed your pet table scraps. Remember, onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes, raisins, salt & yeast dough can be very toxic to your four-legged family member.
• Avoid putting glow jewelry on your pet and do not allow them to play with it. The substance is not highly toxic, but could cause gastrointestinal issues or excessive drooling. It can also cause a blockage if large pieces of the plastic containers are swallowed.
• Never use fireworks around animals. Lit fireworks can produce severe burns or trauma to the face and paws. Many types of unused fireworks contain potentially toxic substances like potassium nitrate, arsenic, and other heavy metals
• Many pets get very scared of loud and crowded firework displays. It is best to keep your furry friends safe from the noise in a quiet and sheltered place where they are unable to escape from your home.

Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions at (480) 837-0800.

We hope everyone has a fun and safe 4^th of July!

Source: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/july-4th.aspx

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