For many people, nothing beats lounging in the backyard on the Fourth of July with good friends and family—including the four-legged members of the household. While it may seem like a great idea to reward Rover with scraps from the grill and bring him along to watch fireworks, in reality some festive foods and products can be potentially hazardous to your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center offers the following tips:

• Never leave alcoholic drinks unattended where pets can reach them. Alcoholic beverages have the potential to poison pets. If ingested, the animal could become very intoxicated and weak, severely depressed or could go into a coma. Death from respiratory failure is also a possibility in severe cases.
• Do not apply any sunscreen or insect repellent product to your pet that is not labeled specifically for use on animals. Ingestion of sunscreen products can result in drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and lethargy. The misuse of insect repellent that contains DEET can lead to neurological problems.
• Always keep matches and lighter fluid out of your pets’ reach. Certain types of matches contain chlorates, which could potentially damage blood cells and result in difficulty breathing—or even kidney disease in severe cases. Lighter fluid can be irritating to skin, and if ingested can produce gastrointestinal irritation and central nervous system depression. If lighter fluid is inhaled, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems could develop.
• Keep your pets on their normal diet. Any change, even for one meal, can give your pets severe indigestion and diarrhea. This is particularly true for older animals who have more delicate digestive systems and nutritional requirements. And keep in mind that foods such as onions, chocolate, coffee, avocado, grapes & raisins, salt and yeast dough can all be potentially toxic to companion animals.
• Do not put glow jewelry on your pets, or allow them to play with it.While the luminescent substance contained in these products is not highly toxic, excessive drooling and gastrointestinal irritation could still result from ingestions, and intestinal blockage could occur from swallowing large pieces of the plastic containers.
• Keep citronella candles, insect coils and oil products out of reach. Ingestions can produce stomach irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression. If inhaled, the oils could cause aspiration pneumonia in pets.
• Never use fireworks around pets! While exposure to lit fireworks can potentially result in severe burns and/or trauma to the face and paws of curious pets, even unused fireworks can pose a danger. Many types contain potentially toxic substances, including potassium nitrate, arsenic and other heavy metals.
• Loud, crowded fireworks displays are no fun for pets, so please resist the urge to take them to Independence Day festivities. Instead, keep your little guys safe from the noise in a quiet, sheltered and escape-proof area at home.

On November 6, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called for an increase in the California state sales tax to address the multi-billion dollar deficit in the budget and proposed a sales tax on all veterinary services. This was part of a larger combination of program cuts and revenue increases to balance the state budget. This proposal would have added approximately 10% to the cost of veterinary care. 

The CVMA mobilized our 6,000 members and they answered. Thousands of letters were sent to legislators and the Governor’s office by CVMA members. In turn, they mobilized their clients and the opposition grew. Our voices were so loud that a special extension was added to the Governor’s budget voicemail line to handle the opposition to the veterinary tax. 

We are grateful to our members, their clients, and friends in industry, breeder groups and the animal welfare arena who assisted in this effort. We also thank our state legislators who recognized that this tax would ultimately harm the animals that we cherish and the safety of our food supply.

While this is a great accomplishment, there is still work to do as there may be budget revisions in the future. The CVMA will continue to monitor the special tax commission appointed by the Governor to restructure and modernize California’s tax system and any proposals that could affect the taxation of veterinary medicine in the future.

We are very pleased, however, that our voices have been heard and veterinary services will not be taxed in the 2009-2010 budget!

Bark Buckle Up is a nationwide campaign to educate pet parents on the importance of securing their pets safely for travel. They work with Volvo dealers, law enforcement, fire departments and rescue agencies to expose the dangers of unrestrained pets. While it is admirable for us to love our pets enough to take them along in our vehicles, it is also our obligation to do so safely. In fact, many states and provinces now require that pets be restrained

An unsecured pet is a potential danger to anyone in your car, other motorists, rescue personnel, and himself. In the event of an accident at 30mph, a 15 pound dog can cause an impact of 300 pounds. A 60 pound dog can produce a 2700 pound impact. With this equation, the dangers to the driver, passengers and dog are obvious. There are other concerns, however. Should the dog be unharmed, he could impede the rescue workers by reacting fearfully and protecting his injured family. A dog could also escape from the vehicle potentially causing another accident or he could get lost and injured later.

A secured crate/carrier is the leading recommendation for traveling with your pet. For crate trained animals it also offers familiar surroundings and the added convenience of a place to sleep when you reach your destination. Even a pet that is not accustomed to being confined can usually adapt to a crate for travel quite easily.

An alternative to a secured crate is a restraint harness that locks into the seatbelt. These are available in a variety of sizes and styles. It is best to use one with metal buckles, as plastic ones may break in a collision. Be advised that these devices have not had any official safety testing.

A pet barrier for SUV’s and wagons is considered the least desirable alternative to using a secured crate, other than no restraint at all. While it keeps the pet from entering the passenger area, it does not protect the animal from injury or other potential hazards. Some tension suspended barriers have also been known to dislodge in an accident.

Whatever restraint system you choose, get your pet used to traveling before a long trip. A little training and preparation will make for a fun and safe holiday for the whole family.