You may be looking forward to the 4th of July celebrations, but chances are your pet is dreading it. Kansas State University Veterinarian Susan Nelson says many dogs have a firework phobia.
To calm your dog's nerves:
- Close the blinds
- Turn the TV on loud
- Keep them in a dark room
- In extreme cases, talk with your vet about using anti-anxiety medication.
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Nelson recommends keeping your dog inside during the holiday and if you go outside, always use a leash.
"This season is the highest incidence that we have for pets running away. They're more likely also to get hit by cars because they're so frightened, they're not paying attention to what's going on around them when they're running away from say a firework, so they're more able to get hit," warned Nelson.
She says all pets should be kept indoors because dogs that aren't afraid of fireworks could still get hurt. Some dogs try to retrieve the lit firework, causing damage to their mouths and other body parts.
Also, those citronella candles, insect repellants and leftover food could also be harmful to your pet.