It's the fourth of July. Your family is getting ready to celebrate the big day with fireworks and a cook-out. But... your dog is ready to crawl under the woodwork to escape the noise. If this sounds familiar to you, you need to become pro-active and prepare your pooch for the upcoming holiday celebration.
1. Buy Some Calming Balm. You don't have to go to a vet or spend a lot of money. There are many herbal sedatives that are sold over the counter. You may spend about ten dollars for some type of pill or gel for your pet. Good brands are sold at major outlets like Petco or Pet-Smart. I currently use "Travel-Ease" which is easy to administer as a "lickable" formula. There are plenty to choose from, and they come in a variety of forms such as wafers, sprays, or probiotic tablets. Just choose the one that works best for your pet and your budget.
2. The Thundershirt. The secret in using this product is making it tight enough to cover the dog's belly. You must wrap it around without constricting the animal. The purpose is to make your pet feel safe and secure. It does help... but remember, there are no magic bullets!
3. Music. To drown out the noise of firecrackers and overhead fireworks, choose one of your favorite all-music channels for your dog or cat. I prefer the classical music, as it is soothing enough to effectively drown out the noise and quickly lulls the dogs into a somnambulant state. It is even better to put the dogs in a bedroom where it is quieter, especially if there's a party going on.
4. Be Prepared to Stay at Home. Either you decide to give up the holiday party or, if you are a true party animal, find a friend or relative to stay with your pet during the holiday fireworks show. Pets always do best when someone is around. The ideal solution is to curl up on the bed with your four legged friends, turn the T.V. on and hunker down with them. If they know you are there, they will probably drift off sooner or later, even if their sleep is interrupted by the noise outside!
5. Most Important Tip! Take your dogs outside to use the bathroom very early in the evening when you know there will be a fireworks display. Otherwise, you might find yourself up at 3 A.M. with a dog that didn't get to go. Or worse still, you may be cleaning up the mess later!
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