First and foremost, you must maintain a calm and balanced presence for your pet. They look to us for direction and read our body language and movements very well. If your pet hides, let it. I recommend checking that he or she is in a safe, secure place then it is best to leave them.
Secondly, some of you may use medications to help your pet through the noise and distress, others may have found compression shirts and herbal supplements work well. Those who are using herbal tonics or flower essences, consider beginning to dose your pet at least 3-5 days ahead of expected firework displays. This will help their bodies metabolize the herbs, spreading them evenly throughout their systems.
My third suggestion is that you also look at supporting a calm nervous system through their diet. This process does not necessitate the halting of medications and/or the nerve calming supplements you feed. Nor does it mean that you must cook for your pet. Awareness of the foods best suited to a calm mental state and those that may increase nervousness, is a helpful tool when reading pet food ingredient labels. My knowledge in the subject is a product of working with the energy meridians of the body, the regular use of homeopathy, and focused study in the fields of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda.
~ Your pet will receive the most benefit from these foods when you begin feeding the diet change 10-14 days prior to a scheduled time of unusual upset and noise. ~
Helpful, calming herbs include:
chamomile flowers
lavender flowers
marshmallow root **use caution if using in diabetic pets as it may reduce blood sugar, requiring more frequent level checks**it also coats the stomach which may slow the metabolism of prescription drugs**
meadowsweet
passion flowers
valerian root
vervain
These ingredients may be blended or used individually to create a tea that can be added to drinking water or poured over meals. There are some wonderful herbal tea blends on the market that contain these herbs. They are handy helpers to keep in your pantry for yourself as well as your four legged companions.
Calming and cooling foods for your pets include:
egg
pork
turkey dark meat
sardine
whitefish
barley
rice
whole wheat
beets
carrots
celery
green beans
potato
spinach
yam
Avoid the following foods as they tend to increase nervousness and agitation:
chicken - both white and dark meats
turkey white meat
chicken or turkey liver
lamb
rabbit
salmon (this includes regular use of salmon oil - switch to coconut oil or olive oil for 14 days surrounding July 4th)
cabbage
corn
kale
More pets are reported missing between July 2 and July 6th than at any other time of the year. Please make sure your pets are safe and in a secure area. Sudden booms and strong vibrations can cause pets to bolt away from their owners and homes. Running scared, these pets often become lost and injured. If you will be away from home, make considerations for the pet(s) you leave such as playing classical, new age or jazz music , provide an open crate with blankets, or leave a closet open for them to crawl into. My uncle had a black lab, Ranger, whose safe place during thunderstorms and fireworks was the bath tub. He placed a blanket and Ranger's favorite toy there in anticipation of the dog's needs.
By taking a few steps and expanding your knowledge base you and your beloved fur-friend will have a calmer Independence Day experience.
Stay safe and be well.
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