The Pet Sit Blog

Tips for a “Pet”riotic Celebration

July 2, 2009

Posted in: Uncategorized

America’s 233rd birthday is tomorrow.  As you celebrate the long weekend with barbeques, parades and fireworks, be sure to take a few precautionary measures to ensure a safe and happy holiday for you and your pets.

The ASPCA suggests:

• Keep your pet on the wagon. Since alcohol is potentially poisonous to pets, place all wine, beer and spirits well out of paws’ way.
• Avoid scraps from the grill. Stick with your pet’s normal diet—any change, even for a day, can result in stomach upset. Certain foods like onions, avocado, chocolate, grapes and raisins are especially toxic to pets.
• Avoid lathering your pet with any insect repellent or sunscreen not intended for the four-legged kind. Ingestion can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy.
• Stay fire-smart. Keep your pet away from fireworks, matches, citronella candles and lighter fluid, which if eaten can irritate the stomach, lungs and central nervous system.
• Be cool near the pool. Don’t leave pets unsupervised around a pool or lake—not all dogs are expert swimmers! Also, pools aren’t large water bowls—they contain chlorine and other toxic chemicals that can cause stomach problems.

As always, if you suspect your pet has ingested something poisonous, please contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. And be sure to check out a more complete list of holiday pet care tips from The ASPCA.