by Courtney Norjen
The 4th of July is a fun day to celebrate our independence with barbecues, pool time, and of course, fireworks! Unfortunately, most of our dogs do not enjoy fireworks like we do. Between July 4th and July 6th, more dogs go missing than any other time of year. The noise, the burning smell, and the flashes of light can be very scary for our four-legged friends, and their natural instinct is to run away from that stressor. Here are some tips to make fireworks less stressful for your dog this 4th of July:
1. White Noise
Playing a white noise CD (or music specifically designed to calm dogs) in the room that your dog considers a safe space can help drown out the sound of the fireworks. This can help decrease anxiety and keep your dog feeling calmer throughout the course of the firework display.
2. Thunder Shirts
Thunder shirts are designed to provide calming, even pressure to reduce anxiety in dogs. They are often used with a lot of success in dogs that are fearful during thunderstorms, and can be very effective during fireworks as well.
3. Anti-anxiety Medications
If your dog is very fearful of loud noises, talk to your veterinarian and ask about medications that can help reduce anxiety. There are tons of anti-anxiety drugs that are approved for use in dogs and are very effective and reducing fear during stressful, noisy events. Specifically, there is a new drug called Sileo that is labeled for noise anxiety. Ask your veterinarian about which drug may be right for your dog.
If nothing else, please make sure that your pet is wearing proper identification, and is safe and secure indoors during the fireworks. Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
