Supporting Your Dogs Through Firework Fear - The Natural Approach.
With Independence Day and Canada Day around the corner many pet owners are likely already thinking ahead about the impact this may have on their dogs. Whilst fireworks can be a visually pleasing and fun experience for most, there are so many animals that are impacted drastically by everyone else's five minutes of fun.
Fireworks cause unwanted and unnecessary stress and anxiety for all sorts of animals, from little to large. From the birds abandoning their nests out of sheer fear to the horses, injuring themselves from bolting and jumping the same fences that are supposed to keep them "safe". Our dogs are no different, they too can be just as affected, and for many dog owners, fireworks night can be a traumatic occasion just trying to get their dog through the night safely and unharmed.
More dogs go missing over the week of Canada Day and Independence Day than any other time, sadly many never make it home again and if they do, rarely do they make it home unharmed, be it emotionally or physically. The statistics about dogs that run away during the 4th of July are high and very sad. There is a 30% increase of lost pets during the weeks surrounding the 4th of July. According to Lost Pet Statistics, 14% of the 63 million dog-owning households in America will run away within 5 years. Dogs being scared by loud noises is one of the top four reasons dogs run away. The Journal Of American Veterinary Medical Association reported that 30% of dogs suffer from some type of storm anxiety, and 86% of dogs with thunder phobia develop separation anxiety.
Living with a dog who has any kind of anxiety can be hard to deal with at times, we regularly see group members who are reaching out to us at the end of their tether, not knowing which way to turn next to try and support their dog!
Top Tips For A More Comfortable Environment
Below are some tips that I have used with my dogs that may help your dog feel more comfortable, try and experiment with some of these ideas to help your dog relax when fireworks are going off;
• Stay home with your dog or get a pet sitter after dark.
• Give them plenty of exercise during the daytime so they’re relaxed as possible and don’t have pent-up energy.
• Get them out to wee and poo before the fireworks start.
• Feed them earlier too. Lots of dogs aren't interested in food when they're scared. And they may get sleepier after a meal.
• Keep your dog indoors, preferably in a basement or interior room.
• Close your curtains or blinds to muffle sound as much as possible and block out firework flashes.
• Play calming music (you can find a lot on youtube) or keep the tv on.
• White noise like the air conditioning or a fan can help.
• Trying pressure wraps like thunder shirts or doing a t-touch wrap with a blanket or scarf.
• Encourage your dog to settle where they feel safest - whether that be their crate, favourite bed, or on the sofa with you!
• Try distracting them with enrichment games, favourite toys, delicious raw bones or other treats.
• Don't be afraid to pet, massage or snuggle with your dog. Some people claim this reinforces the fear, but I find it helps mine feel safer and fall Asleep. Canine massage can be very beneficial too.
• Your dog can feed off of your energy, if you are feeling nervous or anxious for your dog, your dog may pick up on this and it may just make their anxiety worse. Try and remain calm.
• Diffusing some essential oils may be beneficial to help relax both you and your pet - check out our article on essential oils for more guidance with this.
• If you have an Amazon Alexa you can ask her to "calm my dog" Alexa will then play a 20-hour long playlist of calming music specially curated for anxious dogs.
• If you don't have an Alexa. You can use the "music for dogs" playlist on Spotify and if you don't have either of those, check out dog tv on YouTube.
•Alternatively, putting the radio on to classic FM can help some dogs tremendously, so much so that in England, on November 5th, some radio stations will play special playlists for dogs.
Safety First
There are also several safety precautions to carry out if your dog is anxious around fireworks;
Ensure your dog's identification tags are up to date and firmly in place.
Wearing a harness during fireworks can be safer than a collar as it's usually a lot more difficult to wriggle out of.
Keep this harness on when in the house just in case especially if your dog is known to bolt.
If you have a dog tracker, consider turning it on and making your dog wear it - ensuring your safety perimeters are correctly added in the app. This will mean you are notified if your dog leaves the safety zones.
Make sure you have an up-to-date and clear photograph of your dog - should your dog manage to escape and bolt - having a recently taken photo can help to reunite you and your dog more quickly.
Natural Remedies
Here are our recommended natural remedies to help your dog deal with firework anxiety;
CBD - if you're in the UK speak to Simplycbd and if you're in the USA or CANADA, check out kings harvest (highly recommend having a consultation with Peter Cincarelli of Allies Crew who is very knowledgeable on all things CBD for dogs and he can discuss your dogs needs further)
Herbal remedies
If you have a fearful pet around this time of year, you could consider adding calming herbs to their diet a week before or at least 3-4 days before the firework event. Using herbs for your dog’s health can also provide lifelong benefits asides from supporting their fear/anxiety. Auckland-based vet Jim Powell from Vets’ Corner in Takanini explains; “One of the advantages of using herbal supplements is that they allow for early intervention before clinical signs become severe. Medicinal herbs, when used in conjunction with modern science have proven to be extremely beneficial for dogs”.
Valerian is a herb known for relieving tension and anxiety. You can purchase it in capsule form, as a dried root, or as a tincture.
Tinctures are generally faster acting, but make sure you go for low alcohol or even better an alcohol-free tincture. Capsules can be very potent, and dried roots contain the full spectrum of the herb. So – each has its benefits. We particularly like the one sold by Dorwest herbs.
Chamomile has long been used for relaxation and its effects on anxiety and stress. This daisy-looking flower can encourage the body to relax, reducing the symptoms of stress. The herb also has mild sedative powers and antispasmodic properties to calm an upset stomach in dogs with vomiting or diarrhoea caused by anxiety.
St John’s Wort: Thanks to its anti-depressant properties, St John’s Wort is another fantastic calming herb for dogs that counteracts anxiety. Studies show that St John’s Wort is as effective as standard anti-depressants like Prozac but without the unwanted side effects. You can also use St John’s Wort flower essence to relieve insomnia and nightmares. Use it for separation or fear-based anxiety (i.e. thunderstorms or fireworks). Avoid using St John’s Wort for 48 hours before surgery as it may strengthen the effects of anaesthesia.
Homoeopathy is a huge help in our lives and we have used it successfully for not just fireworks, but on many other occasions like going to the vets, travelling etc.
Here are some great remedies for fireworks;
• Aconite 30c; this is a great remedy for any fear or trauma you can give it every fifteen minutes while fireworks are going off. Once you see improvement, stop dosing. Re-dose once if your dog starts to get anxious again.
• Phosphorus 30c; this remedy is good for all noise phobias. Give it once or twice a day during fireworks season.
• Aurum metallicum 30c; this can help with many noise sensitivities and phobias. Give it once or twice a day during firework season or thunderstorm season.
• Borax 6c; this remedy is specific for fear of thunderstorms but it may also help for fireworks. You can give it twice a day.
Other stress/anxiety products we recommend;
Physical Aids
Lastly, here are Some physical aids that we've heard great things about that may help calm your dog;
Thundershirt anxiety jacket - Like swaddling an infant, ThunderShirt's patented design applies gentle, constant pressure to calm all types of anxiety, fear, and over-excitement issues.
Muttmuff headphones - Mutt Muffs were specifically engineered to meet the contour of a dog's head to provide the best passive sound reduction possible.
Pawnix - noise-cancelling earphones for dogs
Mekuti Body wraps - the original format of swaddling - body wraps apply gentle pressure to soothe and comfort your dog.
How to do a T Touch Wrap On Your Dog At Home
A Final Note
It's important to note that as we always say, each dog is an individual and no two remedies will have the same effect on every dog. That being said, it's a good idea to use a combination of things to provide a multi-prong approach to support your dog's needs and to have a better chance of effectively supporting your dog's stress/anxiety.
When used in combination, these small routine changes along with herbal remedies and physical aids can provide much better support for your dog's needs.
It's also a good idea to double up on remedies, (though it's important to double-check that the products you use don't have the same ingredients). My recommendation would be to use a herbal blend in the food for a week to 2-3 days before the fireworks event along with a homoeopathic remedy on the day of the event. When the fireworks start, ensure your dog is in their comfortable space with their physical aids already on and your routine already in full swing.
