How to keep your pets safe during fireworks

By Charlotte Francesca Stiles, DVM

Although they’re beautiful to watch, fireworks can make our pets pretty stressed. It can be difficult for pet parents to know how to keep pets safe and comfortable during fireworks displays.

So, in this article we’ll explain how to keep your pet safe during fireworks by going through the following topics:

• Preparing your home for fireworks.
• Avoiding fireworks.
• Creating a safe space for your pet.
• Pheromones.
• Soothing sounds.
• Medication.

Before we get started, we’d also like to remind you that microchipping your pet and keeping your contact information up to date on your MyPetHealth Portal is always a good idea, especially if stressful events, such as fireworks, may provoke them to run away from home.

We’d also like to recommend having a physical pet tag, such as our one of our Lifetime Warranty ID tags, with your pet’s microchip number and contact details.

Disclaimer: Please refer to the information in this article as a guide only. If you want advice relating to your pet’s specific needs, it’s best to consult your veterinarian.

Preparing your home for fireworks

During the summer, it’s common for pets to be reported missing during stressful events like fireworks displays. It may seem obvious, but in the excitement of the evening, don’t forget to make sure all your doors and windows are securely locked to prevent your pet from escaping. Additionally, if you are hosting guests, it’s best to remind them to keep doors and windows closed.

You may also want to black out windows in view of fireworks, so that your pet is not affected by the changes in light.

Avoiding fireworks

If you know that fireworks are particularly stressful for your pet, the best thing to do is to take them as far away from the fireworks as possible. This may mean taking them away for the weekend or letting them stay with friends or family.

We’d recommend keeping an eye on event schedules in your area, so you can organize in advance, especially at specific times of the year, such as New Year’s Eve or the 4th of July.

Create a safe place for your pet

It’s always a good idea for your pet to have a special spot in the home specifically dedicated to them. However, it is especially important during moments of stress in their home environment, such as during thunderstorms and fireworks.

Creating a safe place involves the following:

• An undisturbed area for your pet.
• Access to food, water, and a litter box (if necessary).
• A comfortable place to rest and sleep.
• Toys to play with or something to watch.

Make sure your pet recognizes that this is their safe spot by putting their favorite things inside and leaving them alone.

Pheromones

In addition to creating a safe space for rest, your pet may also benefit from calming pheromones before, during, and after the fireworks. This could be in the form of sprays, dispensers, or diffusers. If you do want to use pheromones, it is a good idea to try them out in advance, just to ensure that they work for your pet.

Soothing sounds

If there are fireworks taking place near your home, the ideal solution would be to stay with your pet and comfort them. However, if that isn’t an option, you should try the following:

• Play soothing sounds through an app, like Zoundz.
• Leave the radio on.
• Play a calming video.

Medication

If you’ve tried everything, and your pet is just far too stressed during fireworks, you may need to consult your veterinarian about medication options. We would, however, like to stress, that using medication to keep your pet calm should only be resorted to when all other options fail.

Don’t forget: with our Lifetime Protection Membership, you can access veterinary professionals anytime by phone, email, or live chat, so if you’re worried about your pet, you can quickly get the help you need.