Summer Holidays
"You're gonna stand there, owning a fireworks stand, and tell me you don't have no whistling bungholes, no spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don’ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, or one single whistling kitty chaser?" — Joe Dirt
Summer holidays are a perfect time to relax, grill a steak, have a couple of drinks from One Well Brewery or Bell's, and light off a few fireworks.
Meanwhile, Lulu, your pug, is sitting at home thinking the apocalypse has begun and is doing the only thing she can: pee on everything.
The Reality Check The 4th of July has one of the highest rates of:
Pets running away.
Emergency vet visits for foreign bodies.
Pancreatitis flare-ups.
The goal of this post is to help you keep your pet out of the Emergency Room and keep them from thinking the end times are here.
1. Fireworks: The Apocalypse
Obviously, this is a stressful time for pets.
Create a Safe Space: A crate or bathroom that is comfortable and quiet is essential.
Medication: There are affordable, safe medications to keep them calm.
Note: Individual pets react differently, and meds can take hours to kick in.
A Note on Timing:
Please don't be upset if you show up on July 3rd asking for help, and then call on July 5th asking why the meds didn't stop Lulu from busting through your screen door and leaving a brown trail half a mile down the road. Plan ahead.
2. Grilling: The Hidden Dangers
Charcoal grilling is a summer staple, but it comes with risks that cost more than just the steak.
The Metal Brush Danger I have performed two surgeries to remove tiny metal grill brush fragments from a dog's intestines.
The Fix: Use a silicone grill brush.
The Math: $20 for the brush vs. **$1,500+ for the vet bill**. (I know, it's not "grate," but it’s worth it).
The Food Hazards. I know it is nearly impossible to keep pets away from food—I catch my dogs licking the grill inserts all the time. But be careful:
Fatty Foods: Those delicious ribeyes can cause pancreatitis (severe inflammation).
Corn Cobs: I have removed multiple corn cobs from intestinal tracts. Do not feed your dog corn on the cob.
For more on what not to feed, see my guide on Your Pet’s Diet.
3. Temperature: The Heat is On
This summer has been brutally hot (and I lived in "Hell," aka Florida, for five years). I have already seen heat stroke cases, and unfortunately, more will happen.
The Danger Zone
Normal Temp: 99–103°F.
Heat Stroke: 104–106°F.
The "Just a Minute" Myth There have been tragic cases where owners ran into a store "for a minute," only to return 10 minutes later to a pet that had passed away.
The Aftermath: Even if we manage to cool them down (IV fluids, fans, etc.), the internal organ damage can be fatal days later.
Rule of Thumb: If it’s hot outside, leave them at home.
Summary
This summer:
Drink your local brew (I recommend "The Opener" at One Well).
Prepare ahead of time.
Use a silicone brush on the grill.
Light fireworks safely (and reasonably).
Don't forget your four-legged friend who thinks the world is ending.
