The Fourth of July holiday can be an overwhelming experience for animals, caution the emergency medicine veterinarians at MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets.
Columbus, OH (PRWEB) July 01, 2016
The Fourth of July holiday can be an overwhelming experience for animals, caution the emergency medicine veterinarians at MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets. This holiday is one of the busiest days at the MedVet emergency rooms across the country, it is important that pet owners take extra precautionary measures to ensure their pet has a safe and happy holiday.
Crowds, loud noises, and flashing lights can startle or panic even normally calm pets. It's best to keep pets at home and inside during Independence Day celebrations. If your pet is especially anxious about the noise from fireworks, pet owners should talk to their veterinarian ahead of time about the situation. Veterinarians can provide tips on keeping pets safe and calm, and if necessary, prescribe medication to help the pet through the holiday celebrations.
Other 4th of July dangers include:
Barbecues are opportunities for pets to get into all kinds of unhealthy treats. To prevent stomach upset, poisoning, or the onset of pancreatitis, pets should be kept on their usual diet. Human foods, especially fatty meats, bones, corncobs, chocolate, grapes and gum can cause serious health problems for pets. Many common barbecue spices including garlic and onions are also harmful to pets.
Keep pets on their leash if outdoors and under control when opening doors. Frightened pets may bolt out an open door and run due to fear from noises or crowds. This puts them at risk for being hit by a car or bitten by another pet.
Windows, balconies and decks put pets at risk for “hi-rise syndrome” accidents. Both cats and dogs can jump or fall out windows or off balconies and decks. Even a fall from a one-story window can cause serious injury to a cat as they often hit their jaw on the ground causing damage to the jaw and/or teeth. Dogs can suffer broken bones and/or internal injuries as a result of falling from even a low-level floor. Pet owners should be sure to keep pets away from open windows – even if there is a screen. Pets should be on a harness leash under the control of a responsible adult when on a balcony or deck.
Heatstroke is a threat on any warm day. Pets should never be left unattended in a car as car temperatures rise quickly. Whenever a pet is outdoors, their time in the sun should be limited. They should always have access to shade and plenty of cool, fresh drinking water. Too much exercise on a warm day can also lead to heatstroke, which can develop quickly. Heatstroke can lead to kidney failure, brain damage, and even death. Any pet suffering from heatstroke should be cooled with cool, damp clothes or cool, not cold, water. Immediate veterinary medical attention should be sought.
MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year for all pet related emergencies. With a little extra care and preventive measures, pets will be happy, healthy, and out of the hospital this Fourth of July.
About MedVet
MedVet Medical & Cancer Centers for Pets is a 24-hour emergency, critical care and specialty animal hospital. MedVet is employee owned, veterinary led, and is leading specialty healthcare for pets. MedVet provides specialty referral services for in-depth care and patient management, as well as emergency services, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. More than 100,000 dogs and cats are treated annually at MedVet’s expanding network of medical centers across the country.