Play it Safe this Fourth of July
By OwnedByPugs.com
June 5th, 2007
The 4th of July is filled with family picnics, warm weather and fireworks. Put all of these things together and you are on your way to having a fantastic holiday. However, the day's festivities can pose serious threats to our four-legged companions.
Let's begin with picnics and cookouts. Once your pug hears that there will be friends and family around with free hands and laps and that food will be available, I'm sure your little one will want to attend. In all the excitement of the day's events, be sure that your puggie doesn't stumble upon any table scraps or that your little one doesn't use those big brown eyes to convince Aunt Iris to give him food he shouldn't have. Make sure everyone in attendance knows the rules about what your pug can and cannot have.
If there is any doubt about whether or not a particular food is safe for dogs, air on the side of caution. Also, you may want to consult with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. They have compiled a list of some of the most frequently asked questions about dogs and people food. Just remember this is not a complete list. It is just the most frequently asked items.
Picnics and cookouts are great outdoor events, but make sure you consider the weather and if your pug will have access to any air conditioned spaces. Being outdoors for any length of time in warm weather can take a toll on your pug. Dogs have very few sweat glands and therefore they cannot effectively cool their bodies by sweating like humans do. The main way that dogs cool down when they are overheated is by panting. When your pug pants, it is expelling hot air from its body, which in turns helps your furry friend cool down. However, pugs have short snouts which means they also have smaller air passages. Smaller air passages means that your pug expels less hot air when they pant, making them more prone to overheating than their non-brachicephalic counterparts (dogs with longer snouts).
Once the sun sets, the long awaited firework celebrations will begin, and your pug's stress level will no doubt rise. The loud noises from fireworks can be scary to dogs. Just remember, your pug doesn't understand why suddenly, loud noises are going off every few minutes. While it may be tempting to bring your puggie along to see the fireworks, your pug will be much happier at home away from the loud bangs.
Keeping these tips in mind, I hope you and your pug enjoy a fabulous and safe Fourth of July celebration!
