Dogs usually cannot find peace with unexpected loud bangs and explosions. Your pooch will find it difficult to cope up with the fireworks and you can easily notice all those obvious symptoms like trembling, barking and pacing. As a dog parent, there are some strategies that you can try out to alleviate firework anxiety in your pet. However, it is important that you learn more about firework anxiety in dogs and try to dig a bit more into the pertinent aspects like symptoms, precautions, and medications.
Read on to learn more about firework anxiety in dogs:
Symptoms
All dogs exhibit different signs or symptoms of firework anxiety. As a pet parent, you need to closely monitor your dog to identify whether he is scared of fireworks.
- Trembling
- Restlessness
- Keeping proximity to the owner
- Lack of appetite
- Tendency to flee
- Stressed breathing or heavy panting
- Vomiting
Keep an eye out for these signs and try to resort to some of the precautionary measures or strategies to alleviate the concern.
Preparation
It is important that you prepare your dog for fireworks. Ensure that you create a safe haven in your house where your dog feels comfortable. Taking him to his favorite quite spot indoor will help him to calm down. You can also try sending him off to your friends or relative’s house for the day.
Trying to distract your pooch from the loud bangs by giving him his chew toy or other training tasks is an ideal strategy. You can also use other strategies like TV and music to instill a sense of calmness in him. You can find some good songs for your pooch on the YouTube channel Relax My Dog. Never scold your dog during this stressful time.
Medications and anti-anxiety pet accessories
Medications or sedation is another option to calm your pet down during the fireworks. The product like Adaptil is handy for reducing the stress in dogs. Adaptil is available in the market in the form of sprays, diffusers and collars. Sileo is another anti anxiety medication that can be used to relieve stress in pets.
Products like puzzle toys and anti anxiety shirt are also good when it comes to relieving firework stress in dogs. Prior to choosing any medication or anti –anxiety products, it is ideal to discuss with a veterinarian.
Spend time with your dog
It is natural for your dog to act clingy during fireworks. As a dog parent, it is important for you to spend some time with him to create a sense of assurance that everything is going to be normal soon. Receiving love and comfort from humans, especially the owner can help your dog to calm down quickly. You can also try out some playful interactions with your dog to distract him from his concern.
Desensitizing your dog to fireworks is a good long term strategy. However, you need to understand that it requires time and pre-planning. Talk to your trusted local veterinarian to before making a decision.