The Fourth of July is the ultimate summer celebration for many. It is full of barbecues, pool parties, drinks, and fireworks. But the holiday may be downright nerve-wracking for your fur babies!
The holiday can be an extremely stressful time for your dog and cat due to the loud noises and bright lights of fireworks.
In fact, more dogs go missing during this weekend than at any other time of the year. Why is this you ask?
Why do pets go missing on the fourth of July?
Parties
During many summer holiday celebrations, people are coming in and out of the house, which means your dog or cat may get lost somewhere in the shuffle and find their way outside.
Fireworks
sometimes dogs that are outside can be startled by fireworks and in an attempt to run away from the noise or hide from it find themselves far from home.
However, there are steps you can take to help keep your fur baby calm and (fingers crossed) anxiety-free during the festivities.
Tips to keep in mind when celebrating the 4th of July
1. Keep your pets in a separate room
If your pup is fearful of the noise that comes along with the Fourth of July celebrations try keeping them in a separate room away from all the action, especially if it gives them anxiety.
If they are kept in their own room there way there is no chance of them accidentally getting outside and if they get apprehensive during gatherings they may want to be in a nice, quiet room anyway.
Make sure they have a lot to play with and chew on while in the room.
You can also keep all the windows closed and curtains drawn and the television or radio on to help muffle the sounds of fireworks.
Do this only if your dog dislikes company or will not get even more stressed by being alone in a room, if your dog has separation anxiety or enjoys being in the midst of all the action keeping them separated may cause them to act out. This method may work well if you have more than one pet.
2. Ensure they are microchipped
This is just in case your cat or dog does manage to get it outside having them microchipped will help find them if they are picked up by the local authorities they can scan them and alert you to their whereabouts.
You can also get a GPS tracker for pets that will track their movements, make sure it is waterproof.
3. Put their collars on
Keep your pet’s collar on even when they are in the house keep your pet’s collar with your information on the id tag on until the party stops, this way they have their pet id on at all times in case they get outside
4. Alert guest
Your guest may not know that you have a dog or cat so make sure they know to keep the door closed. Also, let them know to refrain from feeding them as well.
5. Keep the garbage out of reach
If you decide to have a gathering in celebration of the holiday, keep the garbage in another room in a tightly closed bin so there is no chance your pet will be tempted to dig in
6. Try external methods to decrease noise stress
If your dog is apprehensive about loud noises like poppers and fireworks try something that will help soothe them like a thunder shirt or noise-canceling ear muffs.
7. Speak with your vet about sedatives
While I usually use this as a last resort with my patients sometimes nothing else seems to help and your vet may need to prescribe a mild sedative for your pet.
Many pet parents have already tried over-the-counter CBC and Benadryl to no avail, as these medications can usually be easily overridden out of fear and stress.
Your vet may want to prescribe something a little stronger such as tramadol or acepromazine, however, start with the lowest dose possible as these medications can have some unwanted side effects.
Have a happy July 4th!
Check out our patriotic pup coolers that you can make for your own dog!
