Memorial Day
A day when we remember and give thanks to those who have passed away while serving our country.
On this day many of us have off and celebrate by getting together with family and friends for a day of barbecuing.
It's also a day when we need to take extra precautions with our pets. In many areas, May is a time of year when it is going to be hot and/or humid outside. If you are including your pets in your celebration, it's a good idea to keep an eye on them, especially with all of the excitement taking place.
Dogs can get overheated and even develop heat stroke. Make sure your pups have cold, fresh water at all times and if it is too hot for you outside, make sure that your pups go inside. It's natural for them to be by your side for the day, but if it is simply too hot, do what's best for them and keep them indoors.
Often, there are fireworks around this time of year and the thunderous noises can be terrifying for our four-legged pals. It's quite common for dogs to run away due to the inability to escape these sounds. If you find your dog is uncomfortable, bring them inside and try to mask the noises. Televisions and radios provide some relief, as well as noise machines. You can buy these at Target or Walmart, and there are even some free apps you can put on your smartphone. If you set it to White Noise, which sounds like static, it provides a soothing sound to your dog and helps soften the bursts of the fireworks.
If your dog absolutely must join in on the festivities, it might be smart to tell your guests (who may not be dog lovers) what dogs can and can't eat. You don't want a pile of fried onions falling to the ground only to have Fido rush over and eat them. They are toxic to dogs and can send them to the emergency room, if not worse.
Other toxic foods are garlic avocados, grapes, raisins, alcohol, bones from meats and fish, and more. If you are uncertain if your dog can eat it, then it's a good idea to refrain from giving it to them.
In addition, be careful of anything-kabob! A few years back a beautiful puppy Bernese mountain dog was recovering from surgery because one of the kabobs fell on the floor and she was right there, willing, ready and able to wolf down the entire kabob, metal and all. Dogs don't take the time to strip the meat and veggies off of there, they just want the entire thing. That could've turned out a lot worse. The pup could've died if it weren't for the veterinarian on call performing emergency surgery. Spare yourself the heartache and monitor where your dog is.
These same tips to keep your pets safe apply for any big holiday, especially when you have a lot of company and there are too many distractions.
Also, during this time of year, so many dogs are killed because owners leave them in the car. I had one person tell me their dog was only in the car for ten minutes. (The windows were UP and it was 100 degrees outside)! That car could heat up to 120 degrees in less than five minutes). If the owner didn't show up, I was going to have to break the windows because her two pups were already showing signs of stress. Best to leave the pups home if they are going to need to be left in the car for even a minute.
Have a great Memorial Day and keep your pets safe!
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