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Fourth of July
Fireworks can be a very terrifying
experience for dogs. The sounds can hurt
their ears. The crowds at local events can
also be distressing. Keep your dog safely
inside during fireworks. Should he have a
real problem and get panicky with the noise of
firecrackers and things set off in your
neighborhood, ask your vet about calming remedies
or consult a behaviorist about starting to
desensitize your dog.
The combination of medication
(traditional or holistic) as well as behavioral
therapy can make future Fourths far more
pleasurable for all. Never leave your dog in
the back yard. He could panic and scale even
a tall fence. Every year, vets get deluges
with dogs that panicked and ran off only to get
injured. Also, if you keep fireworks in your
house, make sure the dog does not get at
them. He could get very ill or worse.
Halloween
Costumes and candy, critters and
monsters and dozens of kids coming to your door
can spell disaster. Halloween can be one of
the worst holidays. There is usually a
plethora of chocolate that can make your dog very
ill or worse. Masks and costumes can be
quite scary to a dog that is not socialized to odd
things. The constant opening and closing of
the door give a great opportunity for
escape.
Goblins looking for mischief often
seek out dogs left unattended outside for nasty
pranks. Keep your dog away from all
candy. When giving out candy, keep your dog
in a back room or if you have a storm door, remove
the top panel and pass candy through the
opening. Never leave your dog outside
unattended (and bring your cat in before
dark). Some things freaks will do to pets
are terrifying.
Thanksgiving
Hoards of guests and huge amounts
of food and your dog… this is a potential recipe
for trouble. Even if your guests and the dog
get along great, ask that they do not feed your
dog table scraps. Onions can be toxic in
varying amounts as well as varying types.
Too much food can cause tummy troubles. If a
dog gorges and then gets active, he can twist his
stomach or intestine – this can be fatal if not
caught immediately. If you have small
children that visit, you must watch them and the
dog. All it would take is one tugged ear and
the dog may nip. This can cause family
disputes. Keep pup safely tucked away until
things calm down.
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