Fixing Fireworks Fears in Pets
Happy Independence Day! But for our dogs and cats, they may feel anything but independent on the 4th of July when those BOOMS from fireworks fill the sky. Fireworks fears turn many pets into furry basket cases. When the bright lights and loud noises scare the weeeee outta them, the typical reaction is to hide or run away. More pets become lost on July 4th than any other day of the year. You can check out the video, below–although it’s a couple of years old, the tips are still effective.
There are several helpful products to help ease the angst, though. None are a magic bullet, but used wisely in combination with behavior modification techniques, they can help.
PHEROMONE HELP
Comfort Zone with D.A.P. (dog appeasing pheromone) is an analogue of the pheromone mom-dogs produce to calm nursing puppies. It calms the fears of dogs of any age, from puppy to aging oldster. Cats benefit from Comfort Zone with Feliway, an analogue of the cheek pheromone that tells cats their environment and territory is “safe.”
Both products come as plug-ins from pet products stores, but it won’t “drug” your dog or cat into a magic cure. It instead helps put a damper on fear long enough to “think” so that your behavior modification/training techniques can work. You’ll need to have these plugged in for several days in advance for it to offer your dog or cat the best benefits.
THUNDERSHIRT
They make these now for cats, too, and the snug vest helps pets calm down during stressful events. The company sent me one to test on Seren and it worked incredibly well to help her handle the angst of a vet check. Magical-Dawg isn’t bothered by noises but many dogs seem better able ot handle thunderstorms and fireworks flashes when wearing one of these vests. Here’s Seren wearing hers…and she talks like this all the time, that’s nothing new. 
GIVE DOGS A JOB
If you engage the doggy brain, your pet won’t be able to think and perform obedience commands and panic at the same time. If he has a special toy, ask him to find the ball, or play fetch. Maybe offer a treat-stuffed puzzle toy to reward your dog for staying calm.
The best option is to prepare weeks or months in advance and counter-condition fearful pets to potentially scary noises so they learn to associate something good–a happy game or car ride–with it instead of fearful feelings. Here are 12 more tips on relieving noise anxieties.
Are your pets fearful of loud noises? What do they do? Have they ever damaged your house–or injured themselves or others during a panic attack? Is there a special way you handle the kitty or doggy panic attacks? Here are a bunch more great pet blogs for July 4th. Please share!
Save up to 50% during our Online Flash Sale, One day only at PetSmart.com! Valid 7.8 Only.
I love hearing from you, so please share comments and questions. Do you have an ASK AMY question you’d like answered? Do you have a new kitten and need answers? Stay up to date on all the latest just subscribe the blog, “like” me on Facebook, check out weekly FREE PUPPY CARE newsletter, and sign up for Pet Peeves newsletter. Stay up to date with the latest book give aways and appearances related to my THRILLERS WITH BITE!
