The Fourth of July, America's Independence Day, is cause for celebration but that celebration can lead to problems for dogs and cats. It's so important to keep them safe.
Picnics and barbecues are fun for the family but be careful of what sorts of food your pets eat. If friends and relatives are likely to feed them from the table, ask them in advance not to do that and keep you dog or cat in another room while food is being served. The last thing you want is a visit to the Emergency clinic with a sick pet.
The biggest problem of the holiday is the fireworks. If they sound loud to us, imagine how they must sound to dogs and cats whose hearing is so much more sensitive than ours! If you're going to an outdoor fireworks display, please leave your pet safely at home. Being that close to the sound is even more frightening for sensitive ears and your pet is liable to bolt and run our of fear, no matter how well-mannered he is. To be sure that your pet is protected, he or she should be wearing a name tag as well as be microchipped. Don't forget to register the microchip. It does no good if a veterinarian or shelter reads the chip and can't find the owner. Do not leave pets outside. Keep them safely indoors!
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| Photo: ThunderShirt |
Even inside your home, the sound of fireworks from public displays in the area, or neighbors who insist upon setting off their own, is very upsetting to most dogs and cats. They often hide in the bathroom, behind the toilet if they can fit. And they shake from fear. Some are so afraid that they will bolt out of the house.
Do not be afraid to reassure your pet and try to distract him, although that's not always possible. You certainly should not yell at them. They're already frightened. There's never a need to yell. Being wrapped in something snug can make your dog or cat feel more secure. I often recommend ThunderShirt, which is available for dogs and cats in a variety of sizes. It fits snugly and makes the pet feel secure, rather like a baby swaddled in a blanket. It provides gentle pressure. (It's also a nice solution for cats who are afraid to go to the veterinarian.)
Other such products include the AnxietyWrap and Storm Defender, the latter is a cape for dogs with a special lining.
If your pet exhibits more severe symptoms like excessive shaking, not eating, a lot of salivating or even incontinence, speak to your veterinarian about medication. You do not want to use Acepromazine, which will only make the pet sleepy but will not impact anxiety, in fact, they can come out of it even more fearful. Benedryl isn't a good idea, either. It may make your dog sleepy but he's still going to be upset and anxious. Better medications are available from your veterinarian to address the problem.
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| Photo: ThunderShirt |
You can also try desensitizing your pet to the sound. Not just fireworks, but thunder as well if your pet has thunder phobia. There are a number of places on the internet where you can find recordings of thunder or fireworks that you can play for your pet to slowly accustom him to the sound.
The Fourth of July doesn't have to be a nightmare for your pet if you are prepared to help keep your pet calm. Happy Independence Day!!
We all love our pets but sometimes we don't realize how some things we take for granted can be very scary for our pets.
Fourth of July, like many holidays in other countries, are celebrated with fireworks from small to huge displays. They all share something: LOUD noise. Some of us aren't fond of fireworks' loud booming but for our dogs and cats it can be absolutely terrifying. Their hearing is so much more sensitive than ours so it sounds even worse to them and most are scared out of their wits!
While some dogs may tolerate it more than others, those are probably the Sporting (or Gun Dogs) breeds that are trained from puppyhood to get accustomed to the sounds of guns going off so they're not startled during a hunt. For the majority of other pets the sounds are unexpected, painful and scary.
What can you do? First, keep your pets indoors and be sure there's no means of escape. Many dogs and cats get frightened, run off and are either hit by cars or land in a shelter if they're found. Keep you pets safe and be sure they're microchipped, the microchip is registered and that they also have a tag so you can be reunited with your pet. There are.just4mypet.com free tags if price is an object. One such place is http://www.just4mypet.com They will do a simple tag and that's all you really need.
This isn't just for dogs, this is for your cat as well.
And your cat should be wearing a durable, breakaway collar. Your dog, too, needs either a collar or a harness.
It's entirely possible to encourage a conditioned response in your pet. You can find a recording of fireworks or thunder to help acclimate you pet to the sounds, slowly, and then building on it.
Another thing that's often helpful is a Thundershirt or Anxiety Wrap. It snugly fits your pet and makes him feel safe. It works in the short term, not the long term but can be helpful when used for fireworks displays.
Taking your pet along to fireworks displays is not a very good idea.
Your cat may disappear within the house. Cats and small dogs are frequently found in the bathroom, hiding behind the toilet. There may be something about plumbing that makes this feel safe, perhaps it mitigates the sound.
Another thing you might try is playing with your dog or cat to distract him. Sometimes just being "normal" can work wonders and reward that calm behavior with a treat.
If you're having a party, be sure food and decorations are out of the way of curious pets. And all of that commotion may be too much for your pet. In that case, confine your pet to one room with a TV or Radio for company but NOT tuned to a channel covering the 4th of July celebrations!
With a little careful planning, you can make the holiday tolerable for pets.
