Make July 4th a happy holiday for your pets
The City of Mission Viejo Animal Services Center has some tips to make your 4th of July celebration happy for you and your pet.
Fireworks. Animals that are sensitive to loud noises can find the booms of the firework displays worrisome, triggering anxiety or even panic. Signs of anxiety may include: hiding or pacing in the home, panting, whining, barking, trembling, or excessive licking.
There are some different tactics that owners can try to help avoid or relieve signs of anxiety:
- Find a room that is near the center of the home for your pet to relax in, as it can reduce the noise from outside. Pets left outside can become frightened by loud noises from fireworks.
- Create a “white noise” in the background such as a fan, television, or soothing music.
- Place your pet’s favorite bone or toy stuffed with treats in the room with them.
Collar with current identification. The days following 4th of July can be very busy at the Mission Viejo Animal Services Center as pets are reunited with their owners. With doors left open, gates not latching, and loud fireworks going on in many neighborhoods, pets should have on identification that will make it easier for them to get home if they are lost.
Bones. Meat containing bones during the cooking process can easily splinter or break off into small pieces that can be ingested; these small pieces can become choking hazards or even cause internal damage for the animal.
Glow sticks. The main ingredient in glow sticks, dibutyl phthalate, is a bitter-tasting liquid that irritates any surface it comes in contact with. Some glowing products may also contain a small glass container inside that if ingested, may cause damage to the pet’s intestines.
Citronella-based products, lighter fluid, matches, etc. – According to the ASPCA “ingestion can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression”.
Please remember that during 4th of July, firework shows are great places for friends and family, but not our pets.
