|
Fourth
of July Safety Tips from the
ASPCA
 For many people, nothing beats
lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good
friends and family—including the four-legged members of the
household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover
with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch
fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be
potentially hazardous to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison
Control Center offers the following tips:
* Never leave alcoholic drinks
unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have
the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could
become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could
go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a
possibility in severe cases.
* Do not apply any sunscreen or insect
repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically
for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result
in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and
lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET
can lead to neurological problems.
* Always keep matches and lighter
fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches
contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells
and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in
severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if
ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central
nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled,
aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
* Keep your pets on their normal diet.
Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe
indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older
animals who have more delicate digestive systems and
nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as
onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and
yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
* Do not put glow jewelry on your
pets, or allow them to play with it. While the luminescent
substance contained in these products is not highly toxic,
excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still
result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur
from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
* Keep citronella candles, insect
coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce
stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system
depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration
pneumonia in pets.
* Never use fireworks around pets!
While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in
severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious
pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types
contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium
nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
* Loud, crowded fireworks displays are
no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to
Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys
safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof
area at home.
Pet Pause INDEX
Back to
top
Go to Virginia Greene
Go to Greene
Lite |
