Tips to keep pets safe during celebrations this summer

Car trips, barbecues and fireworks this Fourth of July can take a toll on pets.

Experts say to take extra precautions to ensure furry family members are safely included in the fun and action. The American Pet Products Association and its hundreds of pet-product manufacturing members offer the following tips to help make this year's celebrations safe and memorable for pets.

• Keep your pet hydrated. Whether camping, hiking or lounging beachside, keep plenty of water on hand.

• Buckle up your dog. With the majority of dogs taken on car trips not safely secured in cars (according to APPA's 2011-12 National Pet Owners Survey), make sure your dog is properly secure. One way to do it is with Kurgo's Tru-Fit Smart Harness (search at www.kurgostore.com/products).

• Help relieve your pet's anxiety during long car rides. Treating short-term stress in pets, all-natural Richard's Organics Pet Calm helps settle nerves and reduces hyperactivity before traveling (synergylabs.com/index).

• Remember identification. Ensure your pet can easily be tracked down should he get lost with proper identification tags that can be scanned with smartphones to instantly display pet profiles including emergency contact information (www.PetHub.com).

• Keep pets active. During long days and car travels, have plenty of toys on hand.

• Keep pets away from the grill. The aromas may be enticing, but the fire hazards could lead to serious injury.

Upcoming Events