Here are 5 tips to keep your pet safe (and yourself sane) this July 4: #1: PREPARE FOR A PET PRISON BREAK Katy Perry might like fireworks, but your pet doesn'tâ??that's why July 4 is one of the most popular days for pets to run away. Check your fences and gates to make sure there are no easy areas of escape, and try to keep your pets indoors. #2: DON'T LET YOUR PET EAT YOUR TRASH Make no bones about it: your pet will eat discarded BBQ bones, corn cobs, and anything else you leave lying around. Clean up your trash to reduce the risk of human foods getting stuck in your pet's GI tract and causing pancreatitis. #3: DRUGS ARE YOUR (PET'S) FRIEND If you know that your pet has high anxiety, it's okay to ask for sedation from your vet. You can also ask for anxiety reducing meds like Trazodone, Alprazolam, and Sileo. #4: BEWARE OF FLEAS AND DISEASE If you're taking your pet camping, make sure they've got their flea and tick preventative meds. Topical meds don't require an office visit, so don't be lazy: pick it up before your trip. #5: REMEMBER THAT YOUR PET IS AS THIRSTY AS YOU ARE 85 degrees might be fine for you, but it's too hot for your pet. Keep cool water around, and steer clear of hot pavement. If it burns your hand when you touch it, it's too hot to walk your pet! For clarity on these tips, and to ask any other questions about summer safety for your pet, text VET to 67076. The first question is free, and one of Ask.Vet's licensed veterinarians will text you back with customized advice within minutes. Feel free to download the 5 unconventional tips infographic here: https://prhacker.box.com/s/v9w56mbcy4eyo6xkjje4zbsp7rkflb97 For more information on how to keep your pet safe this July 4, I'm happy to set up an interview with Ask.Vet expert Dr. Cherice Roth. Cherice is available for phone, Skype, and email interviews until July 5.