Celebrating the Fourth With Fido

The Fourth Of July is coming up in just a few days. It’s probably safe to say that this year’s celebrations will be much more lively than last year’s were. Be sure to keep your dog’s health and safety in mind. This can be a hazardous holiday for Man’s Best Friend! A local Fort Collins, CO vet discusses spending the Fourth with your canine buddy below.

 Food

Grilling is on the agenda for many people today. Take care not to let Fido have anything that isn’t safe for him. Some of the more dangerous foods for dogs include grapes, currants, and raisins; meat on the bone; chocolate; caffeine; alcohol; avocados; fruits with seeds or pips; and anything that contains xylitol and/or a lot of salt, sugar, or fat. (Or, to phrase this differently, just stick to giving your pup plain, cooked meat, without any skin, bones, or fat.)

Heat

We’re well into the hottest part of the year, and many parts of the country are experiencing record heat. Make sure Fido always has fresh, clean water available. If it’s really hot out—which it very well may be—drop a few ice cubes into his bowl. It’s also best to limit your canine pal’s outdoor time during the hottest parts of the day. Let your pup relax inside on his doggy bed.

Fireworks

One reason that the Fourth is so dangerous to dogs is because of the fireworks. Fido doesn’t understand what all the lights and noise are about, and is often terrified by the commotion. Bring your cute pet inside before it gets dark, and get him set up in a comfy spot with bedding, toys, and treats. Turn a TV or radio on to mask the noise. If your furry friend gets very nervous, ask your vet about using pet-calming products, such as treats or snug-fitting shirts. That said, we strongly advise making sure that your dog has been microchipped and is wearing proper ID tags.

Trash

Trash is another concern. After a grill-out, the trash may contain all sorts of things that are dangerous to our canine friends, such as bones, toothpicks, skewers, can lids, tin foil, fat trimmings, and some of the foods we mentioned above. Use a trashcan that Fido can’t get into.

Happy Fourth! Please contact us, your Fort Collins, CO animal clinic, if ever we can be of assistance.