Everyone gets excited for the Memorial Day weekend, and our furry family members are no exception! To keep it safe and happy, here are a few tips:
DON’T CHANGE THEIR DIET! All those backyard cookout goodies and deli treats are as enticing to our pets as to us. While it is hard to say NO to those big, brown, begging eyes, this is the time for tough love. Sudden changes to your pet’s diet can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Also, certain foods that are often found at BBQ’s (onions, avocado, grapes, raisins, and chocolate) are very toxic to dogs.
PAWS OFF THE BEER! Alcohol is poisonous to pets. Be sure your pet can’t accidentally have access and consume any beer, wine or alcohol…period!
BE SURE THE FLEA AND TICK PREVENTION IS CURRENT. If your pet is prone to sunburn and mosquito bites, be sure to use DOG SPECIFIC repellants and sun screen! Using human insect repellent or sunscreen on your dog can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and more not-so-fun things if ingested.
DOGS ARE BIG FURRY KIDS WHEN IT COMES TO THE POOL. Never leave kids or pets alone around a pool or lake. Believe it or not, not all dogs are good swimmers! They can struggle and wear themselves out quite rapidly. Pools have additional hidden dangers like chlorine that can cause gastrointestinal upset if your pet swallows too much water. ALWAYS HAVE PLENTY OF CLEAN DRINKING WATER AVAILABLE so pets won’t feel the need to drink from the pool.
FIRE! Grills, deep fryers, campfires, fire pits…all can be the demise of a pet. Lighter fluid, citronella candles… just keep an eye on potential hazards to keep this an enjoyable holiday for everyone!
A QUIET PLACE TO REST: Besides finding a comfy, shady spot for Fido to relax and get out of the sun (or rain!), secure a safe place for to escape all the commotion if the people fun gets to be too much for him.
TRAVELING MEMORIAL WEEKEND?
EVERYONE NEEDS I.D.: Make sure pets are wearing their collar and tags at all times. For safety sake bring their vet records and any prescriptions, too!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE… DON’T LEAVE YOUR PET IN A HOT VEHICLE: It only takes MINUTES for the inside of a car to become one huge oven and your pet can die of heatstroke in a short amount of time- EVEN WITH A WINDOW OPEN!
Wishing you a happy…and safe…Memorial Weekend!
