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6 Puppy Safety Tips for Memorial Day

blogs cute puppies memorial day memorial day weekend memorial day weekend with puppy pet safety petland Petland Texas

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner and it’s time to get your house ready for your friends and family! As you prepare the grill for a Memorial Day barbeque or your house for an in-door gathering, don’t forget about your four-legged pooch! There are plenty of strange human customs that our puppies can’t […]

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner and it’s time to get your house ready for your friends and family! As you prepare the grill for a Memorial Day barbeque or your house for an in-door gathering, don’t forget about your four-legged pooch!

There are plenty of strange human customs that our puppies can’t join us in.

Whether it’s fireworks or human food, hazards are everywhere and it’s your job as a puppy owner to keep your fur-baby safe and sound while you celebrate!

On this blog, we compiled a few helpful tips to help you have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend with your furry friend!

1. Keep your puppy inside.

A cute Golden Retriever puppy sitting in a white room.

As with other national holidays, loud noises like fireworks and animated conversations with your guests are inescapable. These things are a staple of nearly every holiday across the nation. 

However, while we may enjoy our fun gatherings and watch those beautiful sparkles of color lit up the night sky, your puppy may not feel the same way.

Loud noises with flashing lights like fireworks are frightening for our four-legged friends. Most of the time, they have no clue what’s going on and why. Instead of feeling happy and excited, your puppy may become anxious or scared. 

If you see your fur-baby panting, whining, crying, or peeing themselves, they’re probably anxious. Some puppies also become destructive, chewing on furniture or knocking over decorations as they try to escape the noises. 

Never scold, hit, or yell at your puppy if they end up displaying anxiety. Give your fur-baby comfort and love. Soothe their anxiety with a soft tone of voice. Rub their back and distract them by playing with them. You can also play white noise so that the booming sounds aren’t loud.

2. Do not leave your puppy in your car. 

An adorable puppy inside a car and staring out of the window.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re running to the store for a “quick second” for some last-minute shopping—never leave your puppy inside of your car. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, hundreds of pets die every year from heat exhaustion after being left inside their owner’s vehicles. 

Many of these owners left the windows cracked open or went inside a store for a few minutes before they realized their mistake. It only takes a matter of minutes for your car to heat up and potentially kill your puppy so never take that chance.

If you notice a puppy or dog is left unattended in a vehicle, take down the license plate, the car’s model, and other information to report it. You can also refer to The Humane Society of the United States’s list of recommended steps to take when a puppy is left inside a car. 

3. Have your puppy carry an ID tag.

Two cute Border Collies sitting in a wheat field with collars and ID tags around their necks.

Are you staying in or traveling out of state this Memorial Day? No matter what plans you have for the holiday weekend, your puppy should always have an ID tag and microchip. These items aren’t just for decoration; they help locate your puppy in case they get lost.

Purchase a collar that fits your puppy’s neck and place their ID tag on it. Your puppy’s ID tag should have your personal information, like your name, phone number, and other identifiable details. 

As for microchipping, we highly recommend having your puppy get microchipped early on. Microchipping is a painless procedure that has more benefits than disadvantages. Your vet will just insert the microchip through a quick injection.

Your puppy won’t feel anything during and after the injection! Once their microchip is inserted, you can always count on it to help you locate your puppy if they escape from your house. This little chip will contain important information about you so that others can return your fur-baby to you.

Here at Petland Kansas City, we microchip each and every single one of our puppies before they go home with their new families. Their microchip is registered with a database of crucial identifiable information under AKC Cart and Help Me Find My Pet (Amber Alert).

4. Offer your puppy plenty of water.

A Beagle puppy drinking water from a steel bowl.

While you’re having fun with your guests and serving plates at dinner, don’t forget to hydrate your little fur-baby this Memorial Day!

Dogs are like humans in many ways, and one common similarity we share with our furry friends is the need for water. Water is a crucial part of your puppy’s life. Water helps keep your puppy hydrated, maintains their body temperature, and helps them digest their food.

According to Fetch by WedMD, dogs lose water every day when they pant and even through their paws. To maintain their health, your puppy will need to drink an ounce of water for every pound they weigh.

Leave a bowl of water on the floor for your puppy before going about your Memorial Day events. Make sure you refill the bowl every few hours so that your little buddy has plenty to drink, even if you’re keeping them in a separate room. 

5. Place toxic plants in out-of-reach places.

An adorable Pug puppy trying to eat a plant with flowers.

Most puppy parents know that human food and alcohol aren’t safe foods for their furry friends. However, toxic plants are another household item that can make your puppy very sick. According to Preventive Vet, 6.1% of emergency vet cases are caused by the ingestion of toxic house plants. 

Some toxic plants that you should keep your puppy away from include:

  • Lilies
  • Aloe Vera
  • Elephant Ear (Caladium)
  • Devil’s Ivy
  • Jade

Each of these plants can be harmful to your puppy, causing vomiting, diarrhea, and even liver failure. Make sure to place your plants into higher, hard-to-reach places in your home so that your puppy doesn’t get the urge to sniff or lick. 

6. Do not give your puppy table scraps.

A beautiful puppy looking up at owner's hand that has food.

All dogs have one secret talent that always gets their owners: sad puppy eyes. You’ve likely seen it while you’re munching on a delicious salad or savoring a crunchy treat. Your little puppy just stands next to your chair, looking up at you with the saddest, pleading eyes you’ve ever seen.

While this performance is cute enough to be Oscar-worthy, do not give in. Table scraps do not belong in your puppy’s tummy. Most human foods aren’t safe for dogs to eat. Some human foods like chocolate and raisin are toxic enough to be fatal for your puppy. 

Even foods like candy and peanut butter are dangerous for puppies to eat. Sugar additives like xylitol are added to these products to give them a better taste but cause diarrhea and vomiting in dogs.

This Memorial Day, avoid giving your puppy any kind of human food, even if they give you their famous begging face. If you aren’t sure what foods are safe for your puppy to eat, the American Kennel Club has a detailed guide on safe human foods to feed your puppy.

Read our blog, Keep Your Puppy Cool This Summer to learn how you can keep your puppy safe from the summer heat.