Memorial Day is an American holiday held on the last Monday in May each year. It is a day of remembrance honoring military members who have passed in the line of duty. Memorial Day was originally coined Decoration Day because it was a time to “decorate” the graves of the fallen soldiers of the civil war with flowers. We now honor fallen soldiers from all American wars. While this day was once a somber occasion, it has turned into a day of celebration, celebrating the lives of those fallen soldiers and the sacrifices made by them and their families.
It is now a common practice for families to have barbeques and shoot off fireworks on this federal holiday. While these activities are tradition and are super fun, we must remember the true meaning of the holiday. What else should we remember? Well, to keep our canine companions safe during our celebrations of course.
Dogs, especially French Bulldogs, can easily overheat if precautions are not taken. For some tips on keeping your dog cool in the heat, click here: https://thefrenchiemamablog.com/2021/05/15/summertime-with-your-frenchie/
Many dogs are fearful of fireworks making it important to watch for signs of fear. Some of the typical signs of fear are pacing, panting, trembling, flattened ears, lip licking, cowering, tail tucking, peeing accidents, and/or dilated pupils. Be prepared to remove your dog from the scene of the fireworks if you notice these signs of fear. Even more troublesome is that some dogs may dart off if he or she becomes extremely fearful making this a good time to remind you to microchip your pup if you have not already done so. Be sure to register your microchip once it is in place and keep your contact information up to date. Even if your pup is microchipped, if the address and phone number on file are not accurate, there may be no way to return your best friend to you.
If your dog is not yet microchipped, be sure to keep them on a leash or harness with their ID tags or collars securely attached.
Lastly, if you are celebrating in a bug infested area, be sure not to spray your insect repellent on or near your dog since most insect repellants made for humans are unsafe for dogs. Be sure to use an insect repellent made specifically for your dog such as Nature’s Way Insect Spray.
If you are anything like me, you try to take your dogs with you as much as possible. My frenchies love it and I love them so any time I can bring them, I do. With this being said, if you know you are going to a gathering on a day with high temperatures, with a lot of people, with fireworks, and with plenty of potential dangers for your dog, there is nothing wrong with leaving them home for a couple of hours. You just need to evaluate your individual situation and decide whether bringing them or leaving them at home is what’s best for you, your family, and your dog.
I hope everyone has a safe and fun Memorial Day! If you have additional tips on having fun on Memorial Day, celebrating our fallen soldiers, or keeping our dogs safe, feel free to leave a reply below.