Preparing Your Pet for Firework Season: A Stress-Free Guide
Summer is the season for festive gatherings and fireworks that go boom in the night, and while we understand that these noises are nothing to fear, pets often find loud, unfamiliar sounds very frightening. Whether you’re enjoying the fireworks from the comfort of your backyard or traveling to the nearest fireworks festival, keeping your pets safe and comfortable should be priority number one. Check out the following July 4th pet safety tips from our team at BEEVET Animal Hospital.
Pets and Fireworks Anxiety
Noise aversion in dogs and cats is common, and there are plenty of product options on the market that provide anxiety relief for pets, including the following:
- Thundershirts help take the bite out of noise aversion in dogs and cats by providing pressure-based anxiety relief for pets.
- Among the most popular products for anxiety relief for pets are pheromone diffusers and sprays like FELIWAY, which emulate a mother cat’s natural pheromones to calm cats down. ADAPTIL is a similar product that helps soothe noise aversion in dogs.
- Prescription medications that treat noise aversion in dogs (and cats) are available from your veterinarian if you already know that your pet is extremely fearful of loud noises.
- Make sure your pet has a microchip and that the information is up to date. Implanting a microchip is easy and can be performed during your pet’s wellness exam. Even some pet birds can be microchipped!
Practical Calming Techniques for Pets
Besides investing in products that provide anxiety relief for pets, there are simple, practical measures you can take at home if you have concerns about pets and fireworks anxiety. Try these tips:
- Leave your pet at home. As tempting as it might be to dress your dog in his patriotic best and parade him around the nearest festival, the safest, most stress-free place for your pet is at home sweet home.
- If you can’t be home with your pet during fireworks, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to stay with your pet.
- Keep cats indoors, and don’t walk the dog after dark on nights when fireworks are scheduled. If hiking with your dog is on your agenda, make sure you’re home before dark.
- Create a quiet, secure spot in your home where your pet has a comfortable bed, food and water, and some favorite toys.
- Close curtains and blinds to keep your pets from seeing flashes of bright lights.
- If you normally watch TV or listen to music in the evenings, keep a familiar sound turned on to give your pet a sense of “business as usual.”
- Talk to your pet in a reassuring voice, and treat your pet to his favorite form of comfort care, whether it’s being brushed, held, or gently petted.
Summertime can be a great time for the entire family—including our pets—with a little extra care and July 4th pet safety precautions. Please contact us if you’d like more information about calming techniques for pets.