BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio — The Fourth of July is still weeks away, giving you plenty of time to lock in your plans. But pet owners, now is the time to make sure your animals have all the creature comforts needed to stay calm during those fireworks shows.
Our pets are especially sensitive to loud noises and flashing lights, such as from fireworks or from summer thunderstorms. And for those who may be especially noise-phobic, the sights and sounds can be particularly traumatic.
Fortunately, there are plenty of steps you can take to ease your pet through the flashes and booms. Just don't wait until the last minute to plan them.
Two to three weeks out, call your veterinarian about calming aids. Get a refill if you've found a prescription that works, or ask your vet what they might recommend. Fluoxetine and Sileo are two FDA-approved medications for use in dogs.
There are also numerous OTC aids to try, from calming chews to sprays or even calming scents for diffusers. Check with your veterinarian to see what they might recommend. When trying something new, do a trial run to make sure your pet can tolerate it.
At Sits 'n Wiggles Dog Training in Bedford Heights, owner Valarie Ross-Smith explained how she creates a "safe bunker" for her noise-phobic dog Grace.
"Summertime can be a little challenging for us," she admits, "so we are prepared with our bunker plan and even practice it before."
Grace's storm/fireworks bunker is in a finished basement, which provides some insulation from outside noise and very little outside light. You can use an interior room in your house, or any space your pet finds comfortable. Utilize favorite bedding or a blanket or two on windows to block outside light. You'll want to mask outside noise with some calming music and a fan, or both. Some pets are also accustomed to white noise, which is an option, as well.
"There are actually dog-calming stations on our different streaming services," Val said. She is a fan of iCalmPet, which is available on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
"Classical music, reggae music, country music — those have been shown to bring down some of those heart rates and respiration rates," she added. "I will often layer that with another sound such as white noise or a box fan, just so we're kind of covering the full spectrum of sound."
Gracie's "bunker" also includes enrichment items.
"She loves enrichment activities, especially if there's peanut butter and cheese involved. She also enjoys these types of puzzle toys for foraging — keeping that brain going, utilizing her nose to forage for food," Ross-Smith said. "It's gonna help her stay calm and use that brain so she's not necessarily thinking about those fireworks or those claps of thunder going off."
You may want to stock up on some high-quality chews that will keep your dog occupied long after the fireworks show is over.
"It could be a bully stick, a peanut butter stick," Val explained. "Chewing helps reduce the respiration and heart rate, which will help reduce the stress and anxiety they feel."
Just remember to always supervise your dog while they're chewing, and inspect the chew before and after to make sure it's safe.
When the day arrives, make sure to carve out time early in the day to get some exercise in. Whether a long walk, a "sniffari," a hike, or a swim, make sure they get some energy out before the festivities.
"So they're more likely to go, 'Oh, I have my calming aids, I've had my calming enrichment, I have my calm music on. I think maybe I'll sleep through the fireworks,' instead of them being really anxious about it," Val noted.
A few more important reminders:
- Keep your pet leashed for those potty breaks. A sudden noise can cause them to bolt.
- Don't leave pets outside. Make sure they're inside and safe during celebrations.
- Stay home with them, if possible.
On the Fourth of July, more pets go missing than any other time of year, but it's not too late to get your pet microchipped. Check with your vet or your local pet store, many of which offer the service by appointment. Collars with current ID tags are a must and should remain on whenever your pet is outside. Taking these few simple steps will increase your chances of a happy reunion if your pet does go missing.
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