HOW TO HELP YOUR PETS DURING FIREWORKS OR THUNDERSTORMS
Whether it’s July 4th fireworks or thunderstorms, summertime can be a stressful time for your pet. And did you know that more pets run away, get out, or go missing over the 4th of July weekend than any other time of year!? Have no fear though – there are plenty of safeguards you can put in place to help your pet sail through these summer challenges.
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
If you live in an area where there will be a lot of Fourth of July celebrating and fireworks, you may want to arrange to take your pet elsewhere for the evening – say a family member’s home, or a kennel. Sometimes the easiest way to help them avoid anxiety is to just remove them from the situation to begin with.
CREATE A SAFE-ZONE
If you are keeping them at home you can create a safe place for your pet to retreat to. Whether this safe place means darkening the windows, turning up music, switching on the TV, or setting up a cozy covered crate retreat, you will want to create this space a day or two beforehand so that they can experience and explore it before they are actually frightened.
MAKE THEM COMFORTABLE
Be sure to pick up some of his/her favorite treats, and give them freely during the days leading up to the 4th. This will help them feel just a tiny bit more comfortable the next time there is a loud bang!
PLAY AROUND WITH SOUND MASKING
Sound masking is a fantastic way to cover up those loud booms. Music – whether it is classical, pop, or country – can help them relax and feel a bit more at ease. We recommend playing only what is typical in your home so that they don’t associate a new type of music with scary fireworks!
SUPPLEMENTS CAN GO A LONG WAY
If you already know your pet can be extra anxious, you can use anti-anxiety helpers like Pet Releaf (which is 100% safe and effective CBD oil), or a ThunderShirt (think of this as a warm blanket that applies constant pressure to their torso), or maybe even LICKS Pill-Free ZEN supplements.
In closing, remember that it is very natural for dogs and cats to react strongly to loud noises. Make sure your pet has everything he needs to stay as calm as possible. Play it safe and put a collar on your pet and make sure he/she has an updated pet ID tag – just in case they do get scared and run away.
With these tips, we’re sure both you and your pet will be able to fully enjoy the summer and 4th of July celebrations!