“You look like the Fourth of July. It makes me want a hotdog real bad” … says every dog’s soul that gorgeous day in July! We are absolutely aware that it is only June, but to be honest, history has taught us we can’t start preaching caution too early. And when it comes to the big day that goes BOOM, there are a number of concerns we need to talk about.

Let’s start by talking about that actual BOOM, or shall we say, the 8,000 BOOMS that come with the day (and all the surrounding days of that week). If you have a dog that is predisposed to anxiety, you need to be talking to a vet about preventative measures now…or all too quickly the 4th of July will henceforth be known as the day that Molly became the Michael Myers of restoration and murdered your doors, couch and window frames in her frantic attempts to go for help. Thus, having conversations as soon as possible with a veterinarian concerning antianxiety medication is pivotal, because not only will you need the meds, but you’ll need time to try the medications and make sure you have the appropriate dose and combination. Sadly, antianxiety medications are not one size fits all, so finding the right medication and the right dose before the 4th of July week will be a lifesaver for Molly and the furniture.

Let’s actually just finish the whole discussion concerning fireworks, please keep your dog away from them. That is all. Truly, nothing exceptionally good is going to happen by having your dog enjoy fireworks with you. Much more likely, something very bad is going to happen. I have way too many horror stories from the ER concerning what happens when dogs are close to fireworks… with the most basic concerning burns to the skin or ulcers to the eyes, with the worst involving dogs running off with lit firecrackers in their mouths. All of these outcomes come with significant pain and a price tag I promise you don’t want, and the worst outcomes have come with goodbyes that were never expected or life altering emergency surgeries. Am I trying to scare you? One hundred percent yes, because the bad consequences are so bad.

Now snacks… lets talk about glorious, glorious snacks. To be honest, all that really needs to be said is don’t do it. Don’t give them hotdogs, burgers, chips…any of it really. Even a good snack…aka watermelon or carrot sticks, can turn into a bad snack in mass quantities. It all just means diarrhea folks, and sometimes it also means vomiting and significant abdominal pain. Think Montezuma’s revenge, but you can’t communicate with them so you still have to take x-rays to prove they didn’t eat the dreaded corn cob which would require them to have surgery. Oh…did I not mention corn on the cob? Yes. Corn on the cob, the maker of the cutest x-rays ever…where you can literally see the individual little kernel sections on the cob…as the vet confirms for you that Molly does need to go for emergency surgery. Man… I really do sound horribly negative about the 4th of July when it comes to time with our pups. I don’t mean to be, but the 4th and 5th of July have always been gang buster shifts for emergency and there are avoidable reasons why. As much as we love your pups, we know you love them more and especially love them when they haven’t destroyed your house due to scary noises or uncontrollable diarrhea. Despite my negativity, we genuinely wish you all a happy and safe 4th of July and are here to help if you need us!