Jacksonville Pet Bytes

We’re approaching the time of year when fireworks are everywhere. You may be spellbound by the sizzle of sparklers and the snap of firecrackers, but Fluffy and Fifi are not going to share your enthusiasm. Those snaps, pops, and sonorous booms could send your dogs running or hiding themselves in bathroom showers stalls, under the bed, or anywhere they think they can go to get away from the noise. There are ways you can prep your fuzzy family while still enjoying the crackles, pops, and booms that are an embedded tradition of the holidays. Following are 4 ways to prep your dog for a night of fireworks.

1. Get your doggy tired

Do you remember the summer days at the beach? You’d spend all day splashing in the waves, building sand castles, and tossing a frisbee. On the ride home, your body and mind would soon start to slow down. You’d pass out, snoring in the back seat of your parent’s car, completely oblivious to the long road trip home. This is what you want to do for your dog the hours leading up to the fireworks. Go for a longer than usual walk, play fetch in the yard, maybe go for a car ride to a park. Provide them with a new toy and play tug of war. Probably the best way to wear out your dog is to take him to a dog park. Both the physical exercise and the mental stimulation of meeting new dogs and people will tire them out. Whatever you do, it has to be more strenuous or active than their normal daily activity.

2. Desensitize

This is an activity that has to be planned out days ahead of the impending stressful activity. Find some recordings of fireworks and play them at low volumes. Slowly increase the volume, all the while giving your dogs praise and some small treats. This positive reinforcement will cause them to associate the fireworks with something that makes them happy. Treats are a good thing to most dogs, but if your dog is not food motivated then you may have to find another reinforcer like a favorite toy or blanket.

3. Update their Microchip Data and Tags

Have you recently moved or changed your phone number? If so, be certain that your dog’s personalized tag is up to date. This can be done quickly at a kiosk at most major pet stores. If your dog is microchipped, double-check that their information is up to date by visiting a universal pet microchip lookup site such as petregistrationandrecovery.com or petdatabase.com. The microchip is of no value if the record in the database has incorrect information.

4. Talk to your veterinarian

Finally, you may have to talk with your family veterinarian to prepare for the noisy night. Talking to the doctor is key to getting a prescription that can ease the inevitable anxiety. Be wary of using over-the-counter medications, especially for dogs that are already taking medications for other diseases. It’s best to contact a medical professional because the dog’s weight, age, and general health will determine exactly what kind of medication they can take and at what specific dosage.

It may be that you will have to try all of the methods in order to help your dog get through the night of noise, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you don’t have time for desensitization or find that your holiday is already packed full of activities, then validating your pet’s microchip and tag and giving the veterinarian a call a few days in advance will get your dog prepared for fireworks.