07/04/2024
Happy 4th of July! Our dogs bring so much joy to our lives. While they do not understand the notions of countries, governments, citizenship, or "freedom", they must certainly can and will avail themselves of the freedom to make a break for it during this holiday time if we are not aware of the precautions to take.
According to the American Kennel Club (AKC), the conditions around 4th of July festivities such as, “Barbecues, many people coming in and out of the house, and even the noise of the fireworks, [ ] may cause pets to panic and they will try to flee somewhere." Because they do not know where the sound is coming from, they do whatever they can to move away from it.
According to AKC Reunite these are some helpful tips that include ways to keep your companion safe, that I also have found useful and effective.
1) Isolating your pet in a room centralized in your home with soothing music (similar to an escape area) can calm their nerves.
2) Keep toys in your pet’s safe area to make the area more fun and to provide distractions from loud noises and flashes.
I have also found for some dogs making man investment in a Thundershirt, which acts as sort of a compression vest for the dog, helps them in regulating their breathing, heart rate, and helps to lower anxiety, as the snug fit gives them extra sense of security in their body.
For some dogs, natural remedies such as Bach’s Flower Rescue Remedy is helpful in calming their nerves. A few drops can be added to their water or food or directly into the mouth every hour, or for more acute anxiety, every 15 minutes until agitation reduces.
Other owners have told me over the years that treats that include CBD (cannabinoid extract) help their pet to take the edge off during the loud times of fireworks. Treats such as Happy Traveler, ThunderWunder Calming Chews, and Zesty Paws Calming Chews, all have been reported to me to be helpful for the different pups I have cared for, as well as actual CBD oil added to their food or water (*make sure you have consulted your vet or a pet care professional educated in proper dosage level for your pup by weight and health condition).
Essential oil blends that include lavender and lemon balm, vanilla, and valerian can be helpful as well to help your pup mellow to the sweet scents that pass the blood brain barrier for greater direct effectiveness. Making a blend from each essential oil and combining it in a carrier oil and mixing in water to spray on their coat is a good way to administer it. There are many recipes you can search online for ratios to create perfect DIY calming spray!
Another helpful thing for your dog to reduce any anxiety on the 4th is to give a good rigorous walk in the day hours to burn off extra energy, as long as they can tolerate the heat (see my other post regarding PSA on hydration and overheating 😁). If you have access to a shady woods hike or tossing a ball for an hour in your backyard, this will help as the more energy burned off from the body, the less available to freak out when the firecrackers in the neighborhood go off.
While not exhaustive, these are some of the tips I find useful and can avail to your and canine furbabies to help navigate the 4th with a bit less stress. 😊❤️🐾🇺🇸🎆🧨
