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The Fourth of July is coming, the worst holiday for pet parents raising anxious dogs. This is a beloved holiday, and I have decades of happy memories with family and friends. But today, I have dogs, and, let's be honest, the fireworks are a menace. It's not the holiday that I have an issue with; I love my country, I love BBQs, and sparklers are fun. I can do without the fireworks.
Fireworks are loud, they're terrible for the environment, they're awful for animals (wildlife and pets), they trigger PTSD in veterans, and they stink. Fireworks stink.
In this post, I will cover several things that we do that help our dogs make it through this day (and the few weeks prior).
My Dogs and Fireworks
We have four dogs. Three of them aren't fireworks fans, but they're content to follow my lead. As long as I'm not panicking, they're good. My oldest dog pants, paces, and barks at the windows all night, and it has been a challenge to find something that worked consistently for him. My dogs aren't aggressive, nor do they harm themselves, which gives me options.
I was always nervous about using sedatives because of all of the negative feedback on social media, but in 2020, I did sedate my oldest dog, and he did well that year.
In 2021, I didn't need sedatives, which I will explain below.
Does Comforting Your Dog Reward Their Fear?
Someone once told me that comforting my dogs rewarded their fear, letting them know, “hell yeah, you should be scared!!!” I thought it best to ignore my dogs' fears for years because I didn't want to make them worse.
In a discussion with dog behaviorist Michael Shikashio, I admitted that I'm afraid of snakes, and he used that to explain a dog's fear. I'm afraid of snakes; Michael said that if someone puts a box of snakes next to me, I will freak out. And if someone tries to comfort me while the snakes slither in the box, it won't reduce or eliminate my fear of snakes. And my fear of snakes won't increase. This made perfect sense to me. Comforting my dog won't make him more afraid of fireworks. So, I will cuddle my dogs on the Fourth of July!
6 Steps to Naturally Calm My Dogs
Everything shared in this post has been helpful for my dogs, but I can't promise that it'll be helpful for all dogs. I treat the Fourth of July like every other day with a few small changes.
- I swap out their usual raw meals for raw meaty bones and chews.
- We have lots of exercise and a couple of long walks.
- Rodrigo starts wearing his Thundershirt around 3 pm.
- I stay up into the wee hours catching up on movies while sleeping dogs invade my personal space.
1 – CBD Oil and CBD Treats for Dogs
For years, I thought CBD oil was a crock. I tried several brands and never saw much of a difference; when the fireworks started up, my dog was in a panic. I learned that it's because CBD oil needs to build up in their system – it's most effective when given daily, not just at the sign of anxiety.
Today, my dogs get CBD oil once or twice daily; sometimes, I give them a CBD treat (great for gut health). Starting July 1st, I give my oldest dog CBD oil two or three times daily, and I do this through the fifth of July.
CBD Oil brands I use with my dogs are:
- Earth Buddy Pet – Quick Calm
- Earth Buddy Pet – Balance
- CBD Dog Health – Calm (I prefer EASE; it calms and reduces inflammation)
CBD oil absorbs best when applied to a dog's gums. My dogs are not a fan of this, but it's a quick process, and they get a treat afterward. According to some, it's a waste to put CBD oil in food because it takes longer to enter the bloodstream, which results in lower absorption rates. However, others in the CBD pet space believe adding CBD to fat or a meal is an effective option. When feeding my dogs, I'll add CBD oil to MCT oil on the side of each dog's dish.
2 – Thundershirt for Dogs
I was never impressed with the Thundershirt until I began using it correctly. First, the trick is to give it a test run for several days before the Fourth so that Rodrigo doesn't associate it with the fireworks. Second, I need to make it snug without it being uncomfortable.
Thundershirts apply gentle, constant pressure that calms anxiety, fear, and over-excitement. If you can wrap it effectively, you can create the same calming effect using an ace bandage. I don't, so I use the Thundershirt – it's a good investment. We've had our Thundershirt for years.
The Thundershirt is…
- comfortable and easy to take on and off
- durable and flexible; my dog can wear it all day comfortably
- breathable, so my dog is comfortable no matter the weather
- washable; I toss it into the laundry after use, and it held up after many washes
- effective in more than 80% of dogs
I have one Thundershirt that fits all of our dogs.
3 – Chews Help My Dogs Zen Out
I always have chews on hand for the Fourth of July. My dogs get a lightweight breakfast, and they're dining on chews for the rest of the day. This year, I had lamb shanks and lamb necks for the crew.
C chewing satisfies a dog's chew drive and helps keep their teeth clean. Chewing also works out a dog's shoulder, neck, and jaw muscles. But my dogs get chews on the Fourth because chewing also releases endorphins in the brain, which boosts their mood, alleviates anxiety, and reduces pain.
The following is what works for my dogs:
- monster braided bully stick
- monster Himalayan chew
- chews from Real Dog Box
- raw meaty bones – lamb shanks, duck frames, pork ribs
Every dog is unique, so I go for what I know each dog can handle. They eat the bones outside during the day because the weather is usually nice, and they have chews in the evening inside.
4 – Long Walks, Games of Fetch, and Exercise
Exercise on the Fourth of July helps to alleviate anxiety in my dogs by exposing them to the fireworks noise in a controlled setting. We're not near the fireworks, but we can hear them in the distance. When we're walking, my dogs are more focused on what's happening in our immediate vicinity – other dogs, cyclists, joggers, etc. I try to walk my dogs at least twice on the Fourth of July.
Rodrigo is reactive and doesn't do well on walks unless there is plenty of distance between us and everyone else. There are a couple of places that meet our needs, and I take my dogs there on the Fourth to walk. What's cool is that we don't go to these places very often, so the walks are slow because the dogs want to sniff every blade of grass.
I spend as much time outside with the dogs. The more exercise, the quicker they settle down later that night.
5 – Essential Oils for Dogs
And finally, I diffuse essential oils in the house to create a calming atmosphere, and I apply Calm-a-Mile RTU, an essential oil blend by AnimalEO, to three of our dogs. Zoey doesn't like essential oils, so I only put Boost in a Bottle Lite (also by AnimalEO) on her once a week.
I could also diffuse Calm-a-Mile NEAT in the house, but some years, I want to shake it up and will often use one of the following diffuser blends that I've discovered over the years. The number of drops can be adjusted based on what you need or your diffuser size/recommendations.
- 5 drops Lavender, 5 drops Sweet Orange (perfectly safe), and 3 drops Frankincense
- 5 drops Lavender, 4 drops Roman Chamomile, 3 drops Ylang Ylang
- 5 drops Bergamot, 4 drops Patchouli, 3 drops Ylang Ylang
- 5 drops Lime, 5 drops Mandarin, 3 drops Lavender
- 5 drops Geranium, 5 drops Bergamot, 3 drops Lavender
- 5 drops Marjoram, 5 drops Roman Chamomile, 3 drops Frankincense
- 5 drops Geranium, 5 drops Mandarin, 3 drops Bergamot
- 5 drops Grapefruit, 4 drops Juniper Berry, 3 drops Rosemary
This year, I'll most likely be using one of the blends that contain Ylang Ylang because it's high on my “LOVE THIS” list right now.
I only source my essential oils from one of three brands: Plant Therapy, Simply Earth, and AnimalEO. Before using any essential oil on or around my dogs, I confirm safety with Dr. Melissa Shelton's Animal Desk Reference for Essential Oils.
6 – Make it a Game
When I first saw this video, I didn't think it would work. But what did I have to lose?
This is my video after I tried this method in 2021…
What About Rescue Remedy or Ewegurt?
Rescue Remedy has never worked for my dogs.
Ewegurt, a sheep's milk supplement, has a calming side effect. I used to add it to my dogs' morning meal before veterinarian appointments, on stormy days, and it used to be part of my Fourth of July regimen.
The magnesium and calcium in sheep's milk have a calming effect on humans and dogs. Sheep's milk also supports gut health, making it a great treat for dogs with a sensitive gut or lactose intolerant dogs.
I stopped using this product when I began using CBD oil daily and saw positive changes in my dogs.
When Natural No Longer Works for Our Dogs
Natural is great, and something we should all strive for as much as we can, but some dogs need more support. Instead of allowing my dog to suffer, I don't mind working with my veterinarian to find a sedative that offers relief. In 2020, we put Rodrigo on Trazodone. Following the instructions provided by our veterinarian, I saw the calming effect within 30 minutes after giving Rodrigo a dose, and the full effect 60 minutes later. We only had to use it a few times, mainly for unexpected thunderstorms.
What is Trazodone?
Trazodone (brand name Desyrel®, Oleptro®) is a serotonin antagonist/reuptake inhibitor (SARI) antidepressant that is used to treat behavioral disorders, especially anxiety- or phobia-related in dogs (e.g., separation anxiety, noise phobia such as fireworks or thunderstorms, veterinary visits, hospitalization, and travel). It is frequently used as a supplemental therapy in pets that do not respond to conventional therapies.
Source: VCA Hospitals
Trazodone is a small white pill that is given orally to dogs and cats. In Rodrigo's case, I was instructed to try it for a couple of days immediately after his veterinarian appointment to see how it works with him because some dogs don't respond to it. Doing this will give his veterinarian time to prescribe something different a couple of weeks before the Fourth of July.
Thankfully, Trazodone works for Rodrigo.
It may be tempting to give a dog double the dosage, but this can lead to issues, so it's best to work with the veterinarian to get the dosage right.
The Side Effects of Trazodone for Dogs
Trazodone is a short-acting drug. Side effects in dogs are not well documented but are generally mild if present. Possible side effects include dilated pupils, sedation, lethargy, vomiting or gagging, colitis (inflammation of the colon), ataxia (loss of muscle control), priapism (persistent and painful erection of the penis), arrhythmias, increased anxiety, increased appetite, and aggression.
Source: VCA Hospitals
When trazodone is used with other serotonergic drugs [any drug that impacts the serotonin in the body], serotonin syndrome is possible. This includes signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), sensitivity of the skin, depression, dilation of pupils, vocalization, blindness, excessive salivation, difficulty breathing, loss of control of movements, paralysis, disorientation, coma, and death.
This short-acting medication should stop working within 24 hours, although effects can be longer in pets with liver or kidney disease.
Before the veterinarian prescribed Trazodone, Rodrigo had a wellness exam with a complete blood panel. Trazodone isn't recommended for dogs with severe heart disease or liver or kidney issues.
And, because Rodrigo also occasionally takes an NSAID (anti-inflammatory), I have to avoid mixing the two. He only gets the anti-inflammatory when he's in a lot of pain, which happens occasionally.
Feed Raise the Dog In Front of You
The best advice I've received as a raw feeder is “feed the dog in front of you.” I wish I could remember who said this to me because they changed my life as a raw feeder. Instead of focusing on what others are doing, I now learn from what others are doing while focusing on what my dogs need. This goes for raising our dogs too.
Everyone has an opinion about what we should or shouldn't do with our dogs, including me. But when it comes to raising happy, healthy dogs, I realized a long time ago that my dogs are my responsibility; I know them better than anyone, and I know that I will do what's best for them.
If you are considering drugs for your dog to help him or her get through the Fourth of July, DO NOT allow friends or strangers on social media to convince you that this is the wrong path. Yes, consider all of your options. Please remember that you know what's best for your dog. Contact your vet, learn the benefits and risks, and then make the right decision for your dog.
Have a safe, peaceful, and happy Fourth of July.
This is a wonderful article and very timely as July 4th approaches. Each year it seems to get louder and more abundant with fireworks. I have never tried cbd oil for anxiety but may have to try it this year. Thank you for sharing tips.
Love it.
I unintentionally started doing the fireworks celebration method with my dog, and it works well for us too. We get random fireworks for 3-4 weeks surrounding the 4th (and various random M80s throughout the year), and I started happily saying, “Yay! Chicken!” every time they happen, and then giving our dog fresh cooked chicken breast (I keep cubes of it in the freezer at all times just for this).
I could tell it was working because he was in the bedroom when one went off, and instead of running into my husband’s office to cower under his desk, he sheepishly came into the living room where I was as if to say, “Yay, chicken?” Not perfect. He still gets scared, but he’s gotten a lot better.
But, in general, yes, fireworks just suck. We haven’t had a full night’s sleep in weeks, and I feel so bad for people with animals who inconsolable and, of course, for humans with PTSD.
It is too bad that exercise is not an option here. We have people start fireworks a month before the 4th and it can happen anytime day or night. And then because the 4th is on a Monday this year, they will start Friday night and go all weekend long day and night. And I live in the country. It is very hard to even get my dogs out to pee with the way people do fireworks. None of my neighbors care my husband has ptsd and now the dogs because of a firework incident in 2018 from a neighbor.