Every day, we celebrate our shared love of dogs and hopefully brighten your day. Enjoy!

Memorial Day weekend: a time for remembrance, gratitude, and often, joyful gatherings with family and friends. As the weather warms and festivities begin, it's natural to want to include our beloved pets in the fun. However, the holiday can also present unique hazards for our furry, scaled, and feathered companions.

One of the biggest shifts during holiday weekends is often an increase in noise. Fireworks, while beautiful to us, can be terrifying for many pets. Their hearing is far more sensitive than ours, and the loud booms and crackles can cause significant stress, anxiety, and even panic.

Bonus Tip: If you know fireworks are likely in your neighborhood, create a safe and comfortable den for your pet indoors. This could be their crate, a quiet room, or even under a sturdy piece of furniture. Provide familiar comforts like their favorite bed, toys, and perhaps a well-loved blanket. Consider turning on calming music or white noise to help mask the outside sounds. Closing curtains and windows can also help dampen the noise and block out flashing lights. For pets with severe noise phobias, consulting your veterinarian about calming aids or medications beforehand is a thoughtful step.

Memorial Day gatherings often involve delicious food, but many celebratory staples can be harmful to our pets. Fatty meats, bones, onions, garlic, chocolate, alcohol, and even seemingly innocent snacks like grapes and raisins can cause digestive upset or even serious health issues.

Bonus Tip: While it's tempting to share our holiday treats, the safest approach is to keep human food out of reach of your pets. Remind guests that "people food" is off-limits for your furry friends. Ensure trash cans are securely covered to prevent curious noses from investigating discarded scraps. If you want to include your pet in the feasting fun, offer them their own special, pet-safe treats.

Many Memorial Day activities take place outdoors, and while fresh air and sunshine can be enjoyable for pets, there are precautions to take.

Bonus Tip: If you're heading to a park or other public space, ensure your dog is always on a leash and has proper identification tags or a microchip with up-to-date contact information. The excitement and crowds of a holiday gathering can easily lead to a pet getting disoriented or separated. Provide plenty of fresh water and shade, especially during warmer parts of the day. Be mindful of hot surfaces like asphalt, which can burn sensitive paw pads. If you're spending time near water, supervise your pet closely, even if they're a strong swimmer, and be aware of potential currents or unseen hazards.

If your celebrations are centered at home, take a moment to assess your yard for potential dangers.

Warm Tip: Ensure your fences are secure and gates are latched to prevent accidental escapes, especially with the increased foot traffic of guests. Be mindful of any potentially toxic plants in your garden. Store away any grilling equipment, lighter fluid, or citronella candles safely out of reach. If you're using insect repellent, choose a pet-safe formula and apply it according to the instructions.

If your Memorial Day plans involve travel, remember that extra care is needed to ensure your pet's comfort and safety.

Bonus Tip: If traveling by car, secure your pet in a carrier or with a pet seatbelt. Never leave your pet unattended in a parked car, especially on a warm day, as temperatures inside can rise to dangerous levels very quickly. If flying, research airline pet policies well in advance and ensure you have a comfortable and airline-approved carrier. For any travel, pack a pet first-aid kit, plenty of food and water, familiar toys, and any necessary medications.

Above all, remember that while Memorial Day is a time of celebration for us, the changes in routine, increased noise, and bustling activity can be stressful for some pets.

Bonus Tip: Observe your pet for signs of anxiety or discomfort. Provide them with quiet retreats where they can de-stress if needed. If your pet seems overwhelmed by the festivities, it's perfectly okay to give them some peaceful alone time. A calm and secure pet makes for a happier holiday for everyone.

By taking these thoughtful precautions, we can ensure that our beloved companions remain safe, comfortable, and loved throughout the Memorial Day weekend, allowing us all to enjoy the spirit of the holiday with peace of mind.

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Here are the recent recalls and advisories:

🐶 Refer 10 people: We will donate a box of treats to an animal rescue 🐶

🐶 Refer 50 people: We will donate a bag of dog food to an animal rescue 🐶

🛏 Refer 100 people: We will donate a dog bed to an animal rescue 🛏

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Sources:

Dog of the day: IG daisypinknose

Meme of the day: IG spotandtango