How to keep your pet calm during Fourth of July fireworks

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Ahead of July Fourth festivities and fireworks, pet owners may be wondering how they can prepare to keep their pet calm among the possible stressors.

Before fireworks begin, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue recommends taking the following steps to keep your pets safe and calm:

• Make sure your pet has an ID tag and/or is microchipped so that you can be contacted if your pet gets scared and runs away.
• Walk your dog earlier in the day, as some pets may be too scared to go out during or after fireworks.
• Keep your pet inside and never bring your pets to a fireworks display.

Dr. Niwako Ogata, an associate professor of veterinary behavior medicine in Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine provided the following tips to help pet parents care for their furry family members during fireworks:

• Avoid confining your pet to a small space, as this could make it panic further.
• Find your pet’s safe space, or make one for them. This should be a quiet area and should have positive associations. Pet owners should stay with their pet during the noises.
• Put on light background noise, like soft music, a television or white noise, which can help distract pets from outside noises.
• Try a wraparound vest or anti-anxiety supplements.
• If nonpharmaceutical options don’t work, talk to your veterinarian as soon as possible to potentially try anti-anxiety medication, especially for dogs.

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