Keep Your Pets Safe This Fourth of July

The Fourth of July holiday may be lots of fun for you and your family but can pose a very dangerous situation for your family pet.

According to Roy Gross, Chief of the Suffolk County SPCA, “we may over indulge in a BBQ but the scraps fed to a dog may create gastrointestinal problems. Keep your dog on a regular diet and be sure to ask your guests not to give table food to your pet.”

Any change, even for one meal, can give your pet severe indigestion and diarrhea.

Foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes and raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to pets.

The Suffolk County SPCA also provides a few other useful tips may help make the holidays safer for pets:

• Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities.
• Instead, keep your pets safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.
• Turn on some music to drown out noise from fireworks.
• Use caution around loud fireworks and sparklers that are very hot.
• Make sure your pet always wears a collar and identification tag.