and with Independence Day falling on a Saturday this year, the parades, celebrations, and fireworks are bound to be bigger and better than ever! Although many people consider the fireworks at the end of the celebrations to be the highlight of the day, our four-legged friends are unlikely to feel the same way. The loud noises and bright lights associated with the display are much more likely to be a frightening, stressful experience for them. Thankfully, we’ve created a list of things you can do this Fourth of July, to help minimize the anxiety and stress for you and your pet so you all can have a stress-free 4th!

List to minimize stress

• Expend your pet’s excess energy (especially for dogs) before night fall. This can help your pet to feel more relaxed during the main event at night. Try taking your pet on an extra-long walk or having a nice long play session before things get noisy.
• Whether you choose to set off fireworks at home or to go see a larger community display, always make sure your pets are safe and secure indoors. Remember that the bright lights and loud noises aren’t concepts your pets will understand and that your pet might show you he’s stressed by very subtle cues only (excessive panting and yawning are two examples for dogs). Do your pet a favor and let them stay home from the display this year. Even if they seem to be unaffected by the display, they will feel more comfortable at home.
• Make sure your dog or cat has proper I.D. Tags and is wearing a collar, even if they will be indoors all night. Many pets may try to escape the loud noises, in hopes of finding a place they feel safe. Having proper I.D. can help increase the likelihood they’ll be returned to you quickly, in case they do run off. If you haven’t done so already, consider getting your pet microchipped to increase your chances of a lost pet being returned to you.
• If your neighborhood is typically loud for the holiday, consider sending your pet to a quieter generic version of propecia locale. Perhaps a friend or a dog boarding facility in the country can offer the pet a calmer, quieter setting for the night. Make sure your pet is used to the new location and feels calm there though first to avoid sending your pet from one stressful situation to another!
• If your pet is staying home, set up a safe place for your pet to ride out the night in. This might be an interior room of your home with a door that can close (and lock for some escape artists) or a crate that your pet knows is safe. Make sure to close the windows, and put blankets or curtains up to block out the lights. Turning on the radio or T.V. might also help to block out some of the noise.
• If possible, stay with your pet during the displays. Remember to act normal: cooing to your pet or excessive petting will only act as a reinforcement for the anxious behavior. Instead, give your pet space and try not to react to the loud noises yourself. Your pet can read your energy – a calm human is always in their best interest.
• Placing blankets over cages for smaller animals may help to keep their anxiety to a minimum and diffuse some of the noise. Also consider moving your smaller pets’ cages to quieter locations during the fireworks display, if possible.
• Anti-Anxiety vests or “Thundershirts” may also be of benefit for dogs with anxiety. These are compression shirts for dogs, that help to keep them calm during anxious events (such as a thunderstorm). If you choose this route, please plan ahead! Your pet needs to be used to the “Thundershirt” and it needs to be put on before anxiety begins in order for it to be effective.
• As a last resort, your veterinarian can prescribe medication to help calm your pet during anxiety-ridden events.

Always remember

Our pets look to us to be a calm, guiding hand that provides them with food, safety and shelter. Remember that feelings of guilt for not bringing our pets to the festivities are purely human emotions. Your pet will not feel angry, disappointed, slighted, hurt or left out by being cared for in a safe, stress-free environment. Being a responsible pet owner is the number one thing that you can do for your pet for a stress free 4th!