Tips to Protect Pets During the 4th of July Celebrations – NBC New York (47)

The 4th of July is a popular time to hit the beach, fire up the grill, and enjoy the dazzling fireworks. However, for our pets it can cause anxiety and confusion.

A New York City veterinarian shared tips and tricks on how to best prepare and protect dogs and cats for a night of festivities.

Dr. Lisa Lippman, DVM, is the director of virtual medicine at Bond Vet in the Big Apple and a social media influencer when it comes to posting videos for pet owners on Instagram.

“Your dog doesn’t have to suffer on the 4th of July. People think it’s something they have to go through, but we have many fear-free methods of helping dogs through fireworks, which also applies to thunderstorms,” ​​Dr. Lippman told our sister network NBC New York in a recent interview.

How to protect your pet?

1. Create a safe place:

For starters, it’s best to avoid exposure to fireworks as much as possible. If the house is near an exhibit, create a comfort zone in the house, such as a well-insulated basement or a room without many windows.

If your pet doesn’t mind being placed in a crate, there are ways to build a temporary confined space out of foam padding.

2. pets can be lost

According to Dr. Lippman, the 4th of July is the time of year when the most pets go missing. She points out that she should make sure to close the blinds and check that the doors are closed properly. In addition to putting an ID on them.

3. Place soft sounds or like those of the television.

Due to sudden loud noises, pets tend to want to find an escape route, which can lead them to jump fences or run from potential harm.

A study published by the University of Glasgow claims that playing specific musical genres can calm dogs’ nerves, such as soft rock and reggae. Dr. Lippman also recommends playing white noise to drown out booming sounds.

4. Other options to calm them.

There are over-the-counter options available like thunder shirts, a type of compression vest, as well as appeasing pheromones for dogs that are clinically proven to give off a calming scent that only dogs perceive.

Noise-canceling headphones, like PAWNIX, are another purchase option.

For severely anxious pets, Dr. Lippman recommends making a vet appointment before the holiday festivities to avoid any problems that day. There are special medications available for the animal to try to meet its needs.

Other recommendations

Best Friends Animal Society He also shared some recommendations:

• Make sure any potentially harmful food or alcohol is kept out of reach.
• Surround your pet with comforting toys and play music or turn on the TV to drown out scary sounds.
• Always keep your pets away from lit fireworks. Some will chase moving shiny objects and risk getting burned or blinded in the process.
• Fireworks also contain substances that are toxic if ingested, so be sure to keep unlit fireworks out of reach.
• Make sure your pet has up-to-date identification tags and make sure your current contact information is on file with the veterinary clinic or shelter that implanted the microchip.
• Have a plan in case your pet goes missing that includes calling and visiting your local shelter and posting information about your lost pet on platforms like Facebook.

My pet may have swallowed something bad. Now what?

In the mix of gatherings with family and friends, it may not be easy to catch your pet taking a bite out of something potentially harmful.

If this happens, Dr. Lippman says to contact a veterinarian through telehealth and ASPCA Poison Control, which is available 24 hours a day at (888) 426-4435.

“If your pet has a microchip and is registered with HomeAgain [programa de recuperación de mascotas]and you have the microchip number, ASPCA poison control is actually a toll-free phone call,” Dr. Lippman noted, but mentioned that telehealth with a veterinarian is a great place to start.

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