Fireworks Season Can Be Fun, But Not For Pets

The Fourth of July is a fun time when the sky explodes with bright, colorful and loud fireworks. The food at the picnic or cookout is great, and community festivals and parties have lots of people milling about. There’s so much going on.

Fun for you, your friends and family but not so much for your dog, cat, horse or livestock.

“There are many things you can do before, during and after the greatest summer holiday we know,” says Nicole Johnson, DVM, Pekin Animal Hospital and President of the Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA). Here’s what Dr. Johnson suggests:

Before the Holiday: Ensure your pet has updated ID tags on their collars and their microchips are current. This includes updated tags on your horse’s halter, as well;

Have a photo of your pet on your phone in case he or she escapes from home;

If your pet has been anxious in the past with such events, talk with your veterinarian about behavioral therapy or prescribing an appropriate sedative for him or her;

And make certain the environment where your pet will be, indoors or outdoors, is secure and safe. Livestock needs to be in secure pens and pastures. If a pet is indoors, find a quiet room, play soft music and keep curtains and blinds shut. Make sure security items, like blankets and toys, are with them or, if best, keep them in their kennel with these items.

During the Holiday: Leave your pets home and do not take them to parties, cookouts, parades, firework displays and other public events;

If you’re hosting a cookout or party, ask your guests to help you monitor your pets. Put signs on doors and gates so that your pets aren’t disturbed or released into the neighborhood;

Some foods are toxic to animals, including chocolate, onions, raisins and avocados. Do not let guests feed your pets their table scraps. Keep sharp barbecue skewers out of your pet’s reach and away from a hot grill;

Sunscreen and insect repellants, if licked or ingested, may make your pet sick. Keep all out of reach;

Keep all fireworks, lighters, matches, and lit “punks” away from curious pets;

Never punish a pet for being scared. This will only add to their anxiety;

And if they are with you, always be attentive to a pet’s anxiety. Keep them close, talk to and pet them to help keep them calm.

After the Holiday: Look for firework debris in your yard or pasture. Animals may eat remnants of firework explosions, which can carry heavy metals, gunpowder, plastics and other elements that are poisonous or are non-digestible;

And if a cookout was held, make sure to pick up any food scraps, disposable plates and cutlery and any other items that are not digestible.

The Illinois State Veterinary Medical Association (ISVMA) predicts, monitors and confronts issues that affect the licenses of Illinois veterinarians. More than 1,900 ISVMA member veterinarians, veterinary students and Certified Veterinary Technicians depend upon the representation and services provided by the ISVMA. Their participation ensures the continued strength of the veterinary profession in Illinois, advancing the well-being of veterinary medical professionals, the public and the environment.