Help your pets enjoy July 4

June 29, 10:11 PMChicago Pets ExaminerSusan NC Price

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Ginger always wanted to come along but the one time we
took her, she shivered through the fireworks.
 

Most people love Independence Day celebrations: the parades, the picnics, and especially the fireworks, with or without open-air concerts. But the very things we people love can be unpleasant or even dangerous to our pets.

Most small pets live indoors and have little to do with parades, but many dogs accompany their owners, and some horses get ridden in local parades. The caution here: know your animal! If your dog loves crowds and has a cheerful, even-tempered, friendly personality, it will probably be fine. But remember that most parades start with siren-blowing emergency vehicles—you may need to keep your dog farther from the road until this truly painful noise has passed.

The same considerations apply for horses. Before you agree to show off your horse in a parade, make sure your mount is fine with crowds, loud horn and siren noises … and cars, trucks and other vehicles. If your group will be riding with decorated tack, get your horse used to the extra ribbons or whatever, especially if any of the decorations jingle or make other noises.

Picnics pose other dangers, primarily through the availability of foods—and alcohol—that can sicken or even kill your pets. (See What not to feed your pet.) But the presence of lots of people around your house or yard can also pose tripping-over and stepping-on dangers for non-caged pets. You may want to consider shutting your dogs or cats away for their own safety, especially if you can’t trust your friends not to feed your pets unsuitable treats.

If you decide your cats and dogs can mingle with the guests you’ve invited, plan your decorations accordingly. Streamers and flags can look like attractive chew toys to your cat, dog—or bird. But papers might contain toxic dyes and plastic isn’t good for anyone when ingested, so do your pets a favor by keeping decorations out of their reach.

Do not allow your pet near any fireworks. Even the non-explosive fireworks legal in Illinois have brightly colored paper that can be especially attractive to birds. Young dogs still in the chewing stage also risk exposure to the flammable powders if they choose to chew on these odd-smelling treats. Don’t let your pets risk fatal consequences—store and use fireworks as far away from your pets as possible.

The column Thunderstorms can terrify your pets explores fear of loud noises, but mostly in dogs and cats. And while an issue of the New York Times reported in September 1912 that fireworks including Roman candles failed to move roosting blackbirds from trees in Topeka, solitary caged birds or even small groups of birds may find fireworks much more disturbing, especially those lit off close to your home. Closing windows and doors to minimize the sound—even covering the cage with a blanket—all will help keep your bird(s) calm and safe.

If you are going to let off fireworks yourself, be kind to your pets—buy only the less noisy varieties—which are pretty much the only varieties legal in Illinois anyway. And if your dog hates unexpected, sudden loud noises, leave the dog home when you go to watch fireworks.