3 Tips To Keep Your Pets Safe & Calm on the 4th of July

Popping in with a few quick tips ahead of the 4th of July celebrations next week —

Because while I personally think no one ever needs to light another firework (and birds, veterans, and your dogs all agree)... the fireworks are gonna happen anyway.

So here's what you can do to keep your pets as safe and calm as possible during next week's festivities:

#1: Keep them inside. 🏡

This is THE MOST important thing you can do.

Even if your dog has never run away from you — even if your indoor-outdoor cat never ventures past the porch — the sudden BOOM of a firework can startle even the calmest pet into terrified flight.

Shelters and rescues see a HUGE increase in lost-and-found pets as a direct result of holiday fireworks. Don't want to risk losing your pet? Keep them inside until the noise is over, and only take them out on a leash.

#2: Play white noise or soothing music. 🎶

Try to block out or buffer those intermittent explosions with some background noise. You can just ask your smart speaker to "Play rain sounds" or "Play white noise."

Or, bonus points, you can find calming music made especially for pets! Personally, I like David Teie's Music for Cats (<-- Spotify album link. Yes, this will destroy your algorithm recommendations. But anything for your pets, right?)

#3: Supply calming aids when appropriate. 🥱

How do you keep animals calm during fireworks? Treats or oral extracts with L-tryptophan, chamomile, and other calming ingredients might be just the ticket to help your pet calm down. Your vet might even prescribe a mild sedative, like gabapentin.

As always, check with your vet before feeding your pet anything new.

Dog owners can also try a Thunder Shirt for dogs or similar. These garments help compress your pet's central nervous system to keep them calm — basically imitating an ongoing hug. (Cat owners are welcome to try Thunder Shirts too, but only if you take a video and send it to me.)

Wishing you and your paw-triotic pets a happy and calm 4th! 🇺🇸

Lianna