It’s that time of the year! Fourth of July – A day of fun-filled bbq’s and fireworks, but also one of the scariest times of the year for many pets. Each year animal shelters see a record number of strays during the 4th of July as pets get lost or runoff from fear of all the commotion and fireworks.
So what can you do to help make sure your pet is safe? Plan ahead.
- Leave them at home! Your pet doesn’t know it’s a holiday and if they tend to be nervous around loud noises, thunder, and other loud activities, it’s best to just leave them at home. They’ll feel safer and more comfortable, make sure your house is secured and your pet can’t get out. *tip*: Be sure that you’ve removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed, some dogs who never chew may do so out of anxiety from strange noises they don’t typically hear every day. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep him company while you’re attending Fourth of July picnics, parades, and other celebrations.
- Make sure their tags and microchip information is up to date. If they do get out, this will be the best chance you have of finding them or of them finding home.
- Distract your pet. Tire out your pet before the nightly festivities. If you’re not going to be home, get them toys and a safe place to “hide”. Turn on the TV or some music to distract them from the loud noises outside. If you are home, play with them or give them treats so they’re not thinking about the noise.
- DO NOT leave them outside!! Pets who are normally okay with loud noises may not be okay with fireworks. Many pets have escaped yards or hurt themselves trying to escape.
- Consult a veterinarian. If your pet is extremely anxious, talk to your vet to see if there are sedatives you can use. There are also herbal calming solutions such as rescue remedy to help calm an animal down.
- Stress & Anxiety Supplements. You can purchase “stress & anxiety” supplements to help calm their nerves. Check out the FFR shopping page for stores, Best Bully Sticks and Entirely Pets sells some all natural remedies that may help, such as “rescue remedy” (proceeds from these purchases support FFR). Please consult a physician if you are unsure how your dog will react to supplements.
Also, please remember, NEVER leave a pet in the car on a hot day or night, the temperature in a car can quickly reach deathly levels within minutes and a dog’s internal body temperature is already 102 degrees.
We hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July with your Furry Friends!
For more information about 4th of July safety check out these articles: