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Local Veterinarian Offers Advice for Keeping Pets Safe on the 4th

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July 4th is a time to celebrate our country’s independence with the usual festivities—barbecues, get-togethers and fireworks.  But while we’re out having fun, the holiday can be stressful for our pets.  KSMU’s Michele Skalicky talked with a local veterinarian to find out how to keep your dog safe and calm as Independence Day approaches.

It’s tempting to want to take your dogs with you when you head out to watch a fireworks display.  But Dr. Laura Hilton, a veterinarian with Deerfield Veterinary Hospital in Springfield, advises against it.

"It's really best to keep pets indoors during the 4th of July celebrations because, as much as we appreciate the 4th of July festivities, a lot of our pets don't have that same appreciation, and they can have a lot of fear and anxiety," she said.

And it’s not just stress and anxiety that can affect your pet.  Hilton said fireworks can also harm your dogs’ ears.

"They can affect hearing.  It can rupture the eardrum and cause permanent hearing loss if they are too close to the fireworks," she said.

She said if you have pets that are scared of loud noises, it helps to keep them in interior rooms away from windows, and turn on a tv or radio.  Dogs that are crate trained tend to feel safer in small spaces, so Hilton recommends keeping in their crates with soft bedding.

And she said there are some natural remedies you can try.

"Such as pheromones, such as Feliway or Adaptil, and there's other products out there such as anxiety wraps that are called, like, Thunder Shirts that are supposed to provide a calming effect  by providing pressure on the body," she said.

Other advice from Hilton:  don’t leave your pets outdoors when you know there might be fireworks set off nearby, and be sure they have i.d. tags on if they’re not microchipped. 

"Many animal shelters report an increased number of stray animal intakes because the pets are running away in an attempt to avoid any noise or excitement," she said.

She reminds pet owners that any amount of time in a vehicle—even with windows partly open—can result in an animal overheating and becoming dehydrated, which can lead to organ failure and death.

Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.