Keep Pets Safe Over 4th of July

Essential Oil Recipes / Essential Oils / Pets

We all love the 4th of July – cookouts, fireworks, and other festivities – but remember that while these events may be fun for us, they are potentially terrifying for our pets.  Unfortunately, each year, this is the #1 day pets go missing.  Because of the noise and commotion on the 4th of July, many dogs and cats panic and run off.  The good news is that this is preventable by taking a few precautions (outlined below) and you can even help to calm pets down using essential oils (try our DIY Dog Calming blend).

Try this recipe for calming dogs who have issues with separation, noise, or fear of new places, people, or things.

  • 10 ml glass roll-on bottle
  • Fractionated Coconut Oil (or other carrier oil)
  • 3 drops Roman Chamomile
  • 5 drops Lavender
  • 2 drops Clary Sage
  • 3 drops Marjoram

Fill roll-on about 3/4 of the way with fractionated coconut oil, add the essential oils.  

Use this blend topically on your dog. Roll the blend on your hands and apply it on the edge of your dog’s ears, between the toes, on his inner thighs, or under his “armpits.” 

Add a few drops of calming essential oils such as those in the recipe above) to a diffuser and run the diffuser in your dog’s room inside the house during the festivities.  If you don’t have a diffuser, add the oils in the recipe above to a glass spray bottle with water and spritz around the room.

Preventative Measures to Keep Your Dog Safe this 4th of July Weekend

dog 2ALWAYS have a collar on your pet with your name and phone number in case they run off so that they can be identified.  Lack of identification is a huge factor in owners not being able to find their lost pets.

Keep your pets safe by leaving them at home (indoors and secured) on this particular holiday.  Find the area of your home where your pets are most comfortable (ideally an interior room or a room without access to the outdoors) and stock the room with your pet’s food and water, favorite toy, bed and treat, diffuser, DIY Dog Calming roll-on or spray and perhaps music to drown out the loud fireworks.  Leave them there for the duration of the holiday weekend as folks like to light off fireworks before and after the actual holiday.  Be sure to let people know that your dog or cat are not to be let outside and if you need to take them outside for a walk, make sure they have their ID collar on and are on a leash at all times.
As a tired dog is less likely to be as reactive during fireworks and other distractions, be sure to start the day with a healthy dose of exercise.
Make sure your pets are well hydrated and have eaten well. This will prevent them from over heating if they are stressed.  Also, be mindful of their water bowl as they may be prone to drinking more water than usual with all the noise and/or heat.

Dangers for Dogs:

  • Firecrackers, lighter fluid, matches and citronella are all poisonous and potentially fatal to your dog. Keep these items safely out of your dog’s reach to prevent inhalation and ingestion. 
  • Use dog-safe Insect repellent & sunblock to avoid potential skin irritations, respiratory or neurological issues (if inhaled), and gastric issues (if ingested) that most bug sprays and sunscreens can create.  Try a bug repellent blend of essential oils (rosemary, citronella, etc) to keep biting bugs at bay, and make your own non-toxic sunblock
  • Don’t feed your dogs from the table – not all human food is safe for dogs.
  • Keep glow sticks away from your pet. GI issues and intestinal blockage can result if ingested.
  • Alcohol of any kind – beer, wine and hard liquor are all toxic to your pet.

Watch the Dog Whisperer – Cesar Milan – calm a dog down using Lavender essential oil

 

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