Pets across the country go missing during Independence Day festivities. Use these tips to help keep your cats and dogs safe this Fourth of July!
In addition, we’d like to add the following tips:
- Make sure your pet is up to date on vaccinations: Should they escape your home, they would be even more at risk to contract diseases, while your pet should always be up to date on vaccines, now is a good time to check their due dates just in case!
- Make sure your pet’s microchip information is up to date: Your pet’s microchip information doesn’t spontaneously update when you move, get a new phone, change your name, etc. Make sure all the information is up to date before the big day.
- Keep up with parasite prevention: Monthly flea, heartworm, and intestinal parasite prevention can be easy to forget. Make sure your pet hasn’t fallen behind schedule!
- Put on background noise: Turn on soothing music or tv stations to help block out the noise of the fireworks.
- Make sure all doors and windows are closed: Some animals may leap out of windows (even from several stories up) out of fear.
- Act normally: Keeping your routine as close to normal as possible will help keep your animal calm. They take behavioral cues from you; so if you stay calm, it will help them stay calm.
- If you have an animal that is severely stressed by fireworks, contact your veterinarian in advance: Your veterinarian can provide calming products (such as pheromone collars, thundershirts, calming chews, etc.) or even prescribe sedatives as needed.
Here at Emerald Animal Hospital, we hope your pet stays home safe this Fourth of July and we’re here to help make sure that happens. We offer vaccines, parasite prevention, calming treatments, microchips (with a lifetime registration), and more! Give us a call at 216-749-7161 to set up an appointment for your pet!