Loud bangs and pops scare pets and can make a normally well-behaved pet misbehave or run away.
Celebrations can be stress-free if you plan ahead. Consider your pet as you make your plans for December 31st.
Dr Beth Spencer’s #1 tip for NYE is to keep your pet indoors. Have you heard stories of dogs who jump through windows and glass doors in response to fireworks? Keep your dog inside and/or in a protective space on NYE.
7 more tips to keep pets safe while humans celebrate
-If you think your pet needs medication to stay calm, please contact us now. It’s good to try out new meds ahead of NYE to ensure the treatment works for your pet. Also, pharmacies can have reduced hours or run low on medications, around the holidays.
–Calming pheromones like Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats can be helpful to ease anxiety. We sell those on our online pharmacy.
–Consider boarding your pet if you will be out of the house. Alone in a house, a loud noise can turn a well-behaved dog into a destructive one.
-During fireworks or loud gatherings, keep pets in an internal room, away from windows. Drown out sound with a white noise machine or the television. Keep the room dark with plenty of hiding boxes and blankets for cats. Turn on Dog Radio for your pups.
-Buy a ThunderShirt (now made for cats, too). They’re designed to swaddle your pet and make them feel secure.
-Keeps pets at a safe distance if you’re setting off fireworks or sparklers at home. Dogs’ and cats’ hearing is far more sensitive than ours. Loud bangs may damage their ears. Also, we don’t want dogs to “fetch” fireworks, which can cause serious burns or death.
-Ensure your pet’s microchip and ID tags are up to date so they’re easier to track down in the event they run away.
Fireworks don’t have to be a source of anxiety for pet owners. Follow Goodheart’s tips to ensure your holidays are fun and relaxing! Please call us if you have questions.