Tips to Keep Your Pets Safe

Though many people love the Fourth of July and all of the fireworks that come along with it, it is a completely different story for our beloved pets. Many are terrified of the noises, which can go on and on for ages. In fact, with the holiday being in the middle of the week, celebrations may go on from this weekend until the next one! 

So, what can you do for your beloved pet? Here are some tips to help. 

You may want to talk to your veterinarian about medication. There are many medications that can help pets through fireworks and even storms. 

Many veterinarians prescribe Trazadone and Gabapentin. Some dogs or cats need only one, while others use a combination of the two. However, it is important to remember that these medications need at least two or three hours to take effect, so you will need to make sure that you give them when you anticipate fireworks. 

Since July Fourth is on a weekday, your dog or cat may need to take this medication all weekend and through next weekend! You may be able to give a smaller dose if you give the medications once or twice daily. 

Your veterinarian will recommend a trial to see how your pet reacts before you find yourself dealing with the fireworks. 

Make sure that your dog or cat is in a safe place when the fireworks are going off. You should never have your dog or cat outside when there are fireworks. Many dogs and cats are lost because they take off as soon as the fireworks start! These animals aren't going to come out right away, because of their fear. 

In fact, you may want to keep him or her in a room that is quiet. You may want to choose a central location without windows so that your dog or cat can't see the flashing lights of the fireworks. 

It may help to play music or have the television on so that your dog or cat is less likely to hear the fireworks. You want your dog or cat to be comfortable and the fireworks won't sound as loud if there is white noise or at least some sort of background noise. 

Some dogs do well with thunder shirts (or weighted blankets). These are made to be worn during times of high stress. Many dogs are calmer when they are wearing these tight thunder shirts. If you don't have one, a weighted blanket may help to comfort your dog. 

It may help to wear out your dog or cat before the fireworks start. Make sure that you spend plenty of time walking or playing with your dog or cat so that they are tired and ready to sleep before the fireworks start. A dog with too much pent-up energy is just going to be overwhelmed by fireworks, and who knows what kind of trouble he or she will get into?

If you know that your dog or cat has severe firework anxiety, the time to talk to your veterinarian is now! He or she may prescribe one or two medications to help take away the anxiety of fireworks. However, you need to make sure that you do a trial so that you can find out the right dosage for your pet. These medications also need to be given a few hours prior to when they are needed, so it is important that you are ready before they happen!

Otherwise, you are going to want to make sure that he or she is locked inside the house in a safe place. Too many dogs and cats run away and get lost because they are so scared. You may even want to turn the television on to help drown out the column. It may even help to wear your dog or cat out before they start so that they are more likely to get some sleep.

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Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.