Dear Miss Behavin’:
We have a new puppy and are concerned about the upcoming 4th of July holiday and how our pup will react to the fireworks. What are some steps we can take to ensure a safe and stress-free holiday for our pup?
The 4th of July can be a scary day for a lot of our pets. I’m glad to see you are planning ahead and want to make sure your pup has a safe and hopefully fear free holiday. There are several things you can do to help make the day a little easier and safe for your pup.
The most important item is to make sure that your pets ID tags are up to date and fitting securely on the their collar. I recommend keeping your pet inside the house or on a leash and supervised if taken out in addition to making sure that your yard is secure. Remember a panicked dog is only thinking to get away from whatever scared them.
If you know that your pet has a hard time with the 4th, you can help make the day a little easier for them by exercising them prior to any scheduled events and looking into some of the following items that can help calm your pet. My personal favorites are the following; pheromone collar, lavender spray and CBD treats. Thunder Shirts, having a TV or radio playing in the room your pet is in a little louder than normal to help drown out the sounds of fireworks is also helpful. If you know your pet becomes panicked I recommend that you talk with your vet and look at some options they may have to help make the night easier.
If your pet gets out, be sure to have a current photo and visit your local shelter. You can file a lost report with them and be sure to post on multiple social media sites to get the word out.