{"id":1950,"date":"2018-06-26T18:00:03","date_gmt":"2018-06-26T22:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/?p=1950"},"modified":"2025-09-26T18:13:49","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T18:13:49","slug":"ten-tips-for-keeping-your-dog-safe-july-4th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/ten-tips-for-keeping-your-dog-safe-july-4th\/","title":{"rendered":"Ten Tips For Keeping Your Dog Safe This July 4th"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><p>Fourth of July is synonymous with a few notable activities: barbecuing with family and friends, soaking up the sun, and topping the night off with a brilliant fireworks display. While it may sound like an idyllic day off work for you, your dog likely doesn&rsquo;t agree. A backyard crowded with strangers, combined with the unfamiliar sights, sounds, and smells of pyrotechnics can make this holiday particularly stressful for your pup. <\/p><p>On top of the stress, traditional July 4th activities can also put your dog at risk.&nbsp;According to the American Humane Association, the day after July 4th is the busiest day of the year for animal shelters. Why? Because <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/coping-with-an-anxious-pup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">frightened pets<\/a>, overwhelmed by all of the festivities, often panic and run away. <\/p><p>Whether you&rsquo;re hosting a few friends for fireworks or throwing an all-out backyard BBQ bash, here are our top ten tips for keeping your dog safe on America&rsquo;s birthday:&nbsp;<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span >Never use sparklers or fireworks around your dog &ndash; not only could they injure him or her if they don&rsquo;t go off properly, but even the fumes can be hazardous.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span >Watch the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/truth-about-table-scraps-for-dogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">scraps<\/a>. Remind your guests not to feed your dog <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/the-most-dangerous-foods-for-dogs\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">potentially toxic foods<\/a> like chocolate, beer, onions, avocado, grapes, and yeast (dough).<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span >Keep all matches and lighter fluid of reach. These contain chlorates which, according to the ASPCA, can be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/dangerous-items-dogs-hiding-home\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">very dangerous<\/a> if ingested by pets.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>&nbsp;<span >Keep your dog away from the grill, barbecue pit, or bonfire, to protect against burns or accidental exposure to toxic substances like lighter fluid.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span >Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended and\/or within reach (especially if your friends have a questionable sense of humor&hellip;). Even a small amount of alcohol can cause your dog to become dangerously intoxicated and can induce coma or worse.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span >Avoid using insect repellants that contain DEET around your dog. If you choose to use insect repellant, make sure it is a product that is safe for pets.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span >Be careful with natural insect repellants that contain citronella, as the oil can be irritating if inhaled by a dog.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span >Keep your dog indoors during the festivities &ndash; especially when it comes time for fireworks.<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span >Plan to check on your dog frequently to make sure he\/she is okay, or book a pet sitter for company if you&rsquo;re going to be away from home that night.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span >Make sure your pets&rsquo; identification tags are up to date, and that you have a current photo of your pup on hand. On the off chance your dog makes a run for it during that fireworks finale, you&rsquo;ll want to circulate flyers and social media posts quickly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol><p>It&rsquo;s also a good idea to double check all windows and back doors, as a panicked dog can become quite the escape artist. Consider buying an anti-anxiety vest if your dog gets particularly nervous!&nbsp;<\/p><p>Holidays are about spending time with the ones you love, and your dog is no exception. Still, our dogs have unique needs that are important to consider when planning a summer shindig. Keep the&nbsp;simple tips above in mind this July 4th, and you&rsquo;ll keep your whole family&rsquo;s tails wagging.&nbsp;<\/p><p><em>Image: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/butterandwilson\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@butterandwilson<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fourth of July is synonymous with a few notable activities: barbecuing with family and friends, soaking up the sun, and topping the night off with a brilliant fireworks display. While it may sound like an idyllic day off work for you, your dog likely doesn&rsquo;t agree. A backyard crowded with strangers, combined with the unfamiliar [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":1954,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[416],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1950","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1950","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1950"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14438,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1950\/revisions\/14438"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thefarmersdog.com\/digest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}