Preparing for the summer firework season early can reduce some of the stress on both pet and pet parent. More pets run away during the Fourth of July than any other day, so its important to take the necessary steps to ensure their safety.
It’s natural for dogs to be afraid of loud noises. The sounds trigger their nervous systems, and they can become anxious or afraid. Running away from the noise is a survival instinct.
Remember, to your dog, the experience of fireworks is different than other natural loud noises. Fireworks are closer to the ground, are visual, and are accompanied by sudden booms, flashes and burning smells. Dogs experience the world through their senses — nose, eyes, ears. The typical Fourth of July celebration can be overwhelming to them.
Humans hear frequencies for 20 to 20,000 Hz (how fast a sound wave is traveling – one Hz is one wave cycle per second). The high range for dogs is at least 50,000 Hz. So, they are hearing the fireworks significantly louder than we are.
So, what can you do to give your furry family member some comfort?
1. Provide a Safe Space for Them INDOORS
Make sure they have a safe place. This could be an inner closest that they like to lay in, a covered crate (if they like being in a crate), or a comfy spot under your bed. Keep them indoors! Play calming music or turn up the TV a bit to muffle the sounds of the fireworks. Keep the curtains closed and shut all windows to minimize the sound. And, if you can, stay with your pet. This will provide them with more comfort than you will ever know.
2. Update Contact Information for All of your Pets
This should be done anyways, but now is a good time to double check. Make sure all those microchips and name collars are up to date. This sometimes gets forgotten for recently adopted pets. The last thing you want is for your new fur baby to get scared and run and not have a way to get home. Also, make sure you have current photos of all of your pets.
3. Exercise
Give your dogs plenty of exercise throughout the day (but be careful of those hot pavements). Remember, if you can’t take the top of your hand and place it on the pavement for 10 seconds, its too hot for your pet’s paws! Make sure they are safely inside before the fireworks begin.
4. Look for Natural Calming Solutions
CBD provides an amazing, natural alternative to drugging your pet with unnatural, synthetic concoctions. And, CBD is healthy for your pet. Your pet has a similar endocannabinoid system to us humans and helps with everything from pet anxiety and stress, to pain and allergies. BUT, you have to make sure it is a high quality CBD oil without harmful fillers.
What to look for – check out my Blog Post on How to Identify High Quality CBD. All of the points for people apply to pets too!
Here are the most important ones:
1) Ingredients
2) Extraction Method
3) 3rd Party Tested for Quality
Taking steps now can make for a more enjoyable summer season for everyone.
