It’s almost that time of year again! The time where we gather together with friends and family enjoying cook outs and yes you guessed it, FIREWORKS! However, even though we enjoy the sounds and colors of the fireworks, our four-legged best friends DO NOT!
Some studies have shown that at least 40% of dogs, if not more, experience noise anxiety. In addition, more dogs get lost on July 4th than any other day of the year. For this reason, and many other reasons, we should have our pet’s microchipped and wearing some kind of identification tag on their collars.
So what can we do to help our fur babies through this time of year you ask? Here are some helpful tips and ideas to get your pet through this day…
- Stay Calm: Dogs notice our body language, if you get jumpy, they will too.
Wear him/her out: Take your dog out for a long walk before the festivities begin to tire them out and calm them. - Distract: Redirect their attention by throwing a favorite toy of theirs around, or give them a kong toy filled with a favorite filling, so that they begin to associate the noises with something positive.
- Let him/her be: If your dog is one to hide, don’t force them to get used to the sounds.
- Just let them stay where they are.
- Try a thunder shirt: These shirts provide a calming, snug fit, to relax your pet. These can be found at your local pet store, or on amazon.
- Have a safe room: Place your dog’s favorite blanket, toy and bed in a room where they go to feel secure. Close the windows and have a fan or ac on to help keep cool and block out the noise. Close curtains to block out the flashes of light, these can cause anxiety in your pet as well. Try adding a calming scent to the room like Adaptil, an all-natural calming pheromone, or lavender oil. Also play some calming music for your pet to listen to and to drown out the sound of the fireworks and relax them.
I hope these are helpful ideas to get you and your pet through this holiday season!
