July is here, which means the Fourth of July is just around the corner! With all the cookouts, lake days, and fireworks, it is important to keep your dog’s health in mind.
There is a lot to take into consideration when it comes to your dog’s well-being. During holidays like the Fourth of July, creating a calm, safe space for your pet can look different depending on the dog and the owner, but there are a few general things to consider.
How to Calm a Dog Scared of Fireworks
The number one way to keep your dog calm during fireworks is to not take them to fireworks shows or leave them outside! You might think your pet is pretty laid back, but the second the first one goes off your pet might be running in the opposite direction.
If you’re relaxing at home with your pet, create a haven for them in your home. Have a cozy space ready, their favorite toys, and some treats on hand. Another way to calm your dog is by putting white noise on. Not only does white noise help human babies relax, but it can significantly reduce your dog’s anxiety triggered by loud noises like fireworks.
If your pet has a history of severe anxiety with loud noises like fireworks, it could be helpful to consult your veterinarian.
Calming Your Puppy During Fireworks
Anxiety due to loud noises differs depending on the pet, but did you know that exposing puppies to fireworks can prevent anxiety as they get older? If your dog is between four and 14 weeks old, it might be worth it to do some training sessions with them throughout the year as a buildup to firework-heavy holidays like the Fourth of July. Of course, this can be beneficial for older dogs as well, but since puppies are still in the early stages of development, they are more likely to become desensitized easier.
Can Dogs Eat Chips?
If you’re hosting a party, odds are you’ll have food like sandwich platters, dip, and bowls of chips out for your guests to enjoy. It might be tempting for them to grab a chip and feed it to your dog, but is that safe? It’s done with the best intentions, but if they don’t ask you first it can cause problems. Dogs’ stomachs are different than ours, which means foods that are okay for us to eat might not be okay for them.
Here are a few human foods that can be dangerous for dogs:
- Grapes
- Any mushroom plant
- Salt (in high volumes)
- Walnuts
- Chocolate
- Avocados
- Onions in any form
If you’re hosting a big group of people for the Fourth of July, it can be good to have some dog-friendly treats on hand that your guests can freely give out. A fun way to do this is by having a boldly labeled container filled with dog treats. You’ll be able to tell guests as they arrive not to feed human food to your dog, but to use the dog treats provided in the marked container instead.
Here are some dog-friendly human foods:
- Carrots
- Peanut butter
- Salmon
- Limited cheese
- Blueberries
- Watermelon
Meat-Based Dog Treats for Guests to Share with Your Pup
If you’re hosting Fourth of July festivities, it is almost inevitable someone will sneak some food to your dog. Rather than running around trying to police people or having to lock your dog up, have some meat-based dog treats readily available for guests to give out at their leisure. Grab some Plato Pet Treats meat sticks in salmon, chicken, or lamb flavor!
The Plato Pet Treats Cycle of Virtue
The Cycle of Virtue can be defined like this: a chain of events in which one desirable occurrence leads to another which further promotes the first occurrence and so on resulting in a continuous process of improvement. We love our pets and want to provide the best we can for them, and when we bless them in this way, they continue to bless us with a better quality of life and increased lifespan. This is a beautiful thing.
