1. Do not apply any sunscreen or
insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use
on animals.
2. Always assign a dog guardian.
No matter where you're celebrating, be sure to assign a friend or member of the
family to keep an eye on your pooch-especially if you're not in a fenced-in
yard or other secure area.
3. Made in the shade. Pets can get
dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of fresh, clean water, and make sure
they have a shady place to escape the sun.
4. Always keep matches and lighter
fluid out of paws' reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which
could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing-or even
kidney disease in severe cases.
5. Keep your pet on his normal
diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pet severe indigestion and
diarrhea.
6. Keep citronella candles, insect
coils and oil products out of reach. Ingesting any of these items can produce
stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression in your
pets, and if inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia.
7. Never leave your dog alone in
the car. Traveling with your dog means occasionally you'll make stops in places
where he's not permitted. Be sure to rotate dog walking duties between family
members, and never leave your animals alone in a parked vehicle.
8. Make a safe splash. Don't leave
pets unsupervised around a pool-not all dogs are good swimmers.
