How To: Have a Pet Safe Picnic

     The weather so far this year has been much too wet for picnicking, but as the ground dries and Labor Day approaches we will see more and more families packing up to go eat at their favorite places. Most commercials would have you believe that in order to have fun at a picnic, all you need is good food, a comfortable spot, and their brand of disposable utensils, but those of us with children, both furry and not, know it is never that simple. While I may not have any tips for how to keep your human children from getting into trouble, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve that can help keep your pets happy and safe during your next family picnic.

1: Plan out your meal: Those of us with animals know that some of our "human food" can be toxic to animals. With that being said it is best to avoid packing these foods so your animals have no chance of coming into contact with it. Most commonly ingested are:
-grapes
-raisins
​-chocolates
-anything containing the artificial sweetener XYLITOL (baked goods, diet peanut                                                                                                butter, gum, candies, etc.)
While not toxic, many of our favorite outdoor foods can be dangerous if swallowed by our pets; if you pack these foods, be sure to bring a close-able container for these food remnants.
-anything containing bones (ribs, chicken legs, bone-in pork chops).
-cores such as the cob of corn or pit of a peach.

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2: If your furry friends are joining you on your outing, be sure to pack their favorite water dishes so that they can stay hydrated. Dogs cannot sweat in the warm weather so they need to be kept in the shade whenever possible and have regular access to COLD water. If you pack ice in your cooler, we recommend to throw  a few ice cubes in their water dish so it can remain cool.

This should go without saying, but NEVER leave your dog or any living creature in the vehicle without the a/c on. Even with the windows cracked, the temperature inside the vehicle rises drastically and it can cause distress within minutes. Keep your animal with you outside of the vehicle until you are ready to get in yourself.

3: Pick a spot away from playgrounds and hiking trails so that you can relax with only minor interruptions from those around you. Even the most social and well-behaved animal can become overwhelmed when surrounded by unfamiliar people/children or if a bike appears from the trail a few feet away. 

If it is a holiday where loud noises or crowds will be involved, it is best to stick to the outskirts, or keep your pet at home. Fireworks in particular are a huge stresser for animals and lead to the most amount of animal run-away's annually.

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4: Tying into what we just covered, it is imperative to always have your pet on a leash with up-to-date tags whenever the pet is outside of the home. Microchipping is a great way for pets to be identified when taken to a shelter or clinic, but without a scanner the only identity marker a pet has are its tags. If the pet were to get away from you without an ID tag and/or microchip, your pet is 90% likely to not be returned to you. If the pets have ID tags, they are usually returned to the family much sooner than those that only had microchips. ​

5: Possibly the most ignored and understated tip is your pet may need sunscreen just as much as you! Most light haired pets and those with very short haircuts need skin protection against the suns harmful rays. Human labeled sunscreen may not be right for your pet, be sure to speak with your veterinarian to ensure you have your pet protected properly.

​We love for our pets to be with us as a part of our families whenever possible, and we try to make everything safe for all of us. Unfortunately there are times where it is simply best to keep your pet at home. Your home is your pet's "safe place" and most pets are not conditioned to be out in hot weather, crowds, near strangers, or other pets. Keep your pets attitude and physical condition in mind before taking them out and about with the family.

Keep your animals safe this summer with these helpful tips and have fun!

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