Health & Fitness
Tips For A Safe Fourth of July With Your Furry Family
Here Are A Few Tips To Keep Your Pets Safe And Happy During This Fourth Of July's Fireworks And Activities.
Animal shelters will find more strays than usual during this coming weekend because many “floofins” are scared off by Fourth of July fireworks.
Fireworks are often frightful experiences for pets, especially dogs. The loud noises can hurt their sensitive ears.
Frightened dogs have different reactions: some tremble at their owners' feet, others hide, some try to run off or they can display bizarre behavior.
Ordinarily well-behaved pets may become aggressive, destructive and/or unpredictable during the holiday, all things our staff has seen first hand during firework season pet-sitting visits.
Here are some precautions you can take to help your pets through the Fourth of July celebration:
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1. ID Tags Please. Make sure pets are wearing well-fitted collars and securely fastened ID tags. In case your pet decides to fly the coop, these might help reunite you with your pets.
2. Build A Zen Room. Find a quiet, secure place to keep your pets. Darkening the room can help. Make sure you give your pet safe chew toys to occupy and distract them during the weekend. Leave a radio on low volume for their listening pleasure.
3. Distract Your Dog and Be Calm and Collected Yourself. Rather than cuddle a frightened dog, try to distract the dog from the disturbing noises with physical activity such as playing ball. Remember that scolding or coddling a scared dog will not help. It will only reinforce fearful behaviors. Instead, assume your pack leader role and act confident and not bothered by the noise and activity outside.
4. Outside? Not Today. Do not leave pets outside, even in a fenced yard, if fireworks might be set off in the distance. Do not take pets to events with fireworks. Keep your pets home in their safe secure environment. If you need to be gone, hire a caring pet sitter to spend time distracting them during fireworks.
5. Anti-anxiety Assistance. Vets can prescribe tranquilizers for extremely frightened dogs. Also, some people find that non-prescription remedies such as Bach Flower Rescue Remedy or Comfort Zone D.A.P. works wonders as well. The Thundershirt is also a great way to calm an anxious dog. It's constant pressure works well to calm the nervous system.
I hope this information helps you get you pet through this weekends Fourth of July celebration! Happy Fourth of July everyone and stay cool out there!
