As we’ve discussed before, the best way to keep your pet safe during the 4th of July festivities is to keep the pet indoors. But how do you know if your pet is scared of fireworks? If you have a new cat or dog that tends to hide during thunderstorms or when loud noises occur, they will not enjoy the 4th of July. Keep them indoors during the long weekend, or as long as you hear the sounds of fireworks in your neighborhood. It can be frustrating for some pet owners who live in neighborhoods that extend the fireworks celebrations for a week or more. But keeping your pet indoors will give it a sense of safety. If you plan on leaving your house or area for any extended period of time, try to get a pet sitter, even for just a few hours. Ideally, someone the pet knows that can check in on the animal often.
There are other methods for lowering the anxiety levels in your pets during fireworks. Every pet should have a safe space in the home. For my parent’s dog Scooter, that was her cage. When she felt anxious she always went to “hide” there and it would calm her. Some cats will hide under a bed (or inside a bed if you have one of those box springs they can dig into). Allow your pet to carve out that space and don’t mess with it. It’s an important part of what they need to feel safe when there are lots of loud, uncommon noises.
Keep your home’s blinds and curtains closed during the fireworks, if possible. You can’t take away the noise, but you can do your part to help remove the flashes of light. If your home during fireworks, don’t be afraid to talk to your pet throughout, even if its hiding somewhere. Speaking in a calm, reassuring voice will let your pet know that everything’s okay. It’s just how we humans like to celebrate, as crazy as it might seem to them! If you’re calm, they will be more likely to remain calm as well.
It’s also helpful if your pet has enough food and water before the fireworks. Make sure they fuel up during the day, so by nighttime they can hide and not be hungry. Same deal goes for bathroom breaks. Get them in before sunset. You can keep your pet stimulated during the day so it will be worn out by nighttime. Play with the pet during the day and keep it active so it will be more inclined to fall asleep during the evening and rest during the fireworks.
If your pet isn’t in hiding, allow some extra attention. Don’t be afraid to snuggle, or allow the pet to be as close to you as possible. If you are leaving for a fireworks display, give your pet sitter instructions to give your pet lots of love while the fireworks are going on!
If you find these methods are not working, or haven’t worked in the past, contact your vet. It’s possible that your pet may need some anti-anxiety medications to help get it through stressful situations like the 4th of July. There are different options from collars with pheromones, to prescription medication. Don’t experiment with this, however. Always talk with your vet first so that you can come up with the right plan for your pet’s needs.
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