5 Tips for Keeping Your Dog Safe and Calm During Fireworks
The unpredictable sound and bright flashes of light can cause pets to become distressed and confused, leading to destruction in the house and an utterly stressed pet. Listed here are 5 tips for keeping your dog safe and calm during fireworks.
Create a Quiet Area
Create a quiet area for your dog to rest during fireworks, such as a spare bedroom. Remove any items that your dog could potentially destroy, such as a plush dog bed. If your dog is crate trained, place the crate in this room with the door left open as an option for your dog. Close the blinds and turn on soothing music or a television show to drown out the noise. In addition, provide a distraction for your pup, such as a treat-filled KONG or a favorite toy.
Purchase a ThunderShirt
Pet owners across the world swear by the ThunderShirt for dogs that have anxiety due to thunderstorms, fireworks, or other distressing events. The ThunderShirt works by “swaddling” your dog (much like an infant) to create a calming effect.
Hire a Dog Sitter
If you plan to be away from home during a time when fireworks will potentially disturb your dog, consider hiring a dog sitter. This person will sit with your pet, engage him or her in favorite games, and work to keep your pup calm. For many owners, the cost of a pet sitter is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that animal is unable to potentially injure itself due to stress.
Exercise
A tired dog is a happy dog, and a happy dog has less anxiety about loud noises. If you know in advance that fireworks will be happening in your neighborhood, take your dog for a long walk or run a few hours prior to the scheduled event. The goal is to make your dog so tired that he or she sleeps through the festivities.
Medication
Finally, if all else fails and your dog is still utterly terrified of the noise of fireworks, consider asking your veterinarian about medications that will ease his or her symptoms. For instance, there are many pharmaceuticals that are specifically aimed at decreasing a dog’s fear of loud noises, such as Precedex and Sileo.
Ultimately, there are numerous strategies that can be employed to keep your dog safe and calm during fireworks. Creating a quiet environment, hiring a pet sitter, investing in a thunder shirt, exercising your pet, and considering medication are all great solutions to this common problem.
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