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Forbes
01-07-2025
- General
- Forbes
Many Pets Get Lost On The Fourth Of July. Here's How To Keep Them Safe
Many dogs and cats get lost on the Fourth of July. Fourth of July frivolity and fireworks make it a fun holiday for human Americans and a scary one for our pets. The loud noises terrify many dogs and cats into running away — which is easier with more doors opening during parties. On average, animal shelters see a 30% spike in lost pets from July 4-6. 'It's a huge pickup weekend,' said Mirah Horowitz, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Lucky Dog Animal Rescue, which pulls pets from overcrowded shelters and prepares them for adoption. 'A lot of stray animals are picked up on the Fourth of July.' Horowitz and the team at her nonprofit, which involves a foster program in Northern Virginia and a rescue campus in South Carolina, have heard many stories from panicked pet parents due to Independence Day. 'We've heard everything from, 'The dog jumped out my window through the screen,' to 'He went out the dog door and got through the fence' or 'bolted through the front door' to 'I was walking my dog for their evening walk and he got scared and pulled the leash out of my hand,'' she said. One of her own dogs, Ruthie, was so terrified by fireworks and firecrackers on her first Fourth of July that she leapt from a couch onto a bookcase and tried to hide her head in the back of it. Naturally, it was upsetting to see Ruthie so traumatized. 'She was so, so scared,' Horowitz recalled. 'You can't provide reassurance in any sort of way other than to just sit there and hold them while they're shaking. It's hard.' (Now that Ruthie is older and is losing her hearing, the holiday is much easier — highlighting one of the advantages to adopting a senior or deaf dog, she noted.) Ruthie is terrified of fireworks. The other main cause of pets going missing on the Fourth of July is backyard parties, where guests are not as vigilant as the hosts about shutting doors and backyard gates to prevent pets from escaping, she added. Tips For Protecting Your Pet On The Fourth Of July To help your pets stay safe on Independence Day, Horowitz recommends the following: Be sure to walk your dog before it gets dark and fireworks start on the Fourth of July. Particularly anxious dogs might benefit from training to use dog earmuffs (which Horowitz likened to noise-cancelling headphones for dogs), compressing ThunderShirts or medication prescribed by your veterinarian (alternately, you can ask them about Benadryl dosages for your pet). Consider leaving your dog home from parties. If they must attend, keep them on a leash at all times and make sure they don't eat table scraps or burn themselves on a grill — or, of course, run off. 'We ask our foster parents if they are having a party or a barbecue that the dog be literally on leash in their hands in the yard, or crated in the house,' she said, noting, 'The other challenge with barbecues is they get into the chocolate cake and then you spend your Fourth of July in the ER.' Parents should be sure to have a conversation with their children about how important it is to not just let go of the leash (or simply be responsible for holding the leash themselves). Be sure your pet wears a collar and ID tag on the Fourth of July. Don't remove the collar during the ... More holiday weekend. What To Do If Your Pet Gets Lost On The Fourth Of July If you discover your pet is missing, immediately contact your county shelter as well as shelters in neighboring counties to report your lost pet and share a photo, description and your contact information, according to Horowitz. You can also upload a photo to Petco Love Lost, which uses facial recognition technology to match lost and found dogs and cats nationwide. Ideally, by taking precautions, your dog or cat will stay safely at home throughout the holiday weekend. 'For adoption purposes, we think about the week of the Fourth of July as, 'Let's get pets out of shelters and into homes so they can celebrate their independence,'' Horowitz said. 'You don't want to be sending them right back because of July 4.'
Buzz Feed
01-07-2025
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Products For Pets Who Are Afraid Of Fireworks
More pets go missing during the Fourth of July than any other day of the year, according to Dr. Carly Fox, a senior veterinarian at New York City's Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. Yet this sobering fact may not surprise pet owners, as the holiday is often marked by fireworks displays that can terrify animals. We asked Fox to recommend preparation measures and calming pet products for owners to implement in advance of fireworks. She noted that the efficacy of any soothing tactic depends on your specific pet and their level of phobia, and that 'there will likely be some trial and error as your figure out what works for your animal.' Read on for Fox's input below, with an emphasis on keeping your pet comfortable and securing your home. A weighted ThunderShirt for dogs with 32,000 5-star ratings Fox explained that some dogs find the ThunderShirt, a hug-like weighted wrap, very helpful. It helps ease anxiety through "applying pressure to the thorax ... similar to a swaddle," she said. If the ThunderShirt reminds you a bit of your weighted blanket, you're not wrong to make the comparison. Similar to how weighted blankets can be so effective for humans' anxiety, ThunderShirts provide consistent, gentle pressure that can help relax its canine wearer and reduce the data supports its use: "In a study, over 70% of owners thought their pet was improved after using this product," Fox ThunderShirt comes in four colors and seven sizes. Note: This is designed only for dogs. An option for cats is review: "If you've ever wondered if a Thundershirt would help your dog, I encourage you to try it. We have a sweet dog that has always been mortified of fireworks and thunderstorms. If we're in the den she will hide under my husband's chair and if she's in her kennel we have always had to let her out so she can be near to us at night when a storm starts. A few days before Independence Day I thought, Duh! Try a Thundershirt! I found one that came on July 3rd and quickly put it on her because our neighborhood kids had started lighting fire crackers. The change was immediate! You could actually see the change come over her! And what was even better was she knew it! You could tell she suddenly felt comfortable even though there were loud noises all around. Later that same evening we had a violent thunderstorm and she remained calm throughout. This from a dog who the previous week had climbed into the bed with me practically hyperventilating. Just amazing! She doesn't want to take it off now so I'll have to buy a second one so she'll have one to wear while the other is in the wash." —PlaceholderGet it in gray from Amazon for $39.99+ and in other colors for $44.99. And a weighed ThunderShirt designed for cats The ThunderShirt brand also makes a version for cats, which, like the dog version, helps promote calm and reduce anxiety through its gentle, hug-like ThunderShirt does touch cats' bellies, which some cats may dislike; however, as one reviewer wrote, "belly-shy" cats may still reap the benefits of the vest by wearing it as an unstrapped cape, as her own pet did (with supervision, of course). It's available in three review: "My kitty survived the 4th of July fireworks very well with this comforting vest on for the entire night. He was hiding in my walk-in closet, purring and eating his dinner, while I petted him. This was the most relaxing 4th of July he has ever experienced!! Highly recommend this for other nervous and anxious kitties." —Angela it from Amazon for $39.95. Ear plugs, like this bestselling noise-quieting cap In addition, Fox advised that ear plugs can be helpful for some on her recommendation, we think this noise-canceling head wrap is a great option for pets. Yes, it looks hilarious. But don't be fooled: It's a non-intrusive, ear muff-esque calming aid that helps dampen noise, reducing the stress of fireworks or other events like its soft, snug compression — much like weighted clothing — is designed to feel like being swaddled (or a "hug for your head") to further reduce designed for use by dogs and cats and comes in up to four sizes and five review: "I will admit I was skeptical when I purchased this item, but also desperate for a way to help my new pup get through the weeks of fireworks my neighborhood buys and explodes every summer. I was tired of seeing her anxious and unsettled, panting, eyes wide, unable to rest for hours every evening because of all the noises. This thing was like an off switch for my dog, I was so shocked, literally within 20 minutes the first night she had just laid down between my husband and I and passed out, she slept all evening. The next night it only took about 10 Minutes, the following evening 5 Minutes, and it really got to the point where it was basically instantaneous after a few days. I had already been using the Thundershirt to help with her anxiety, but this is what she needed! Between both of them she was just a sleepy lil nugget every evening. It's just a stretchy piece of fairly breathable material that goes around her neck and up over her head, I always make sure her ears are down and not wrinkled or in a position that would be painful or awkward for her, and she pretty much instantly just let's out a big sigh, lays down and goes to sleep. She can shake it off if she does the big 'wet dog shake' but it's easy enough to get it back on her. I Highly recommend this item if you have a pup anxious because of loud noises, storms, fireworks, etc., it's way cheaper than a pair of doggy earmuffs and works so well!" —Kristen it from Amazon for $9.99+. A drug-free pheromone diffuser for cats with 14,000 5-star ratings Based on Fox's advice to consider pheromone diffusers, we think the Feliway Classic version is a great option for cats. It's somewhat famous among cat owners for helping calm anxious kitties, reduce stress-induced behaviors like spraying and assist in introducing new cats to one another; my vet even recommended it to me for my own Feliway is designed to emulate the natural pheromones that cats mark their territory with when they feel safe, secure and at home. It thus may be helpful during potentially scary experiences like fireworks. This covers up to 700 square feet and is supposed to last for up to 30 reviews: "Feliway helps to keep my cats calm during thunderstorms and when people are doing fireworks." —Deborah Shanabrook"Seems to work great for my cat. Fourth of July fireworks did no bother him that much and putting a new roof on the house he seemed to cope well. Will buy again just in case." —KenGet it from Amazon for $24.99. Drawn curtains — like this pair of blackout curtains with 30,000 5-star ratings Preparing a calm environment in advance of fireworks can make a big difference for pets, according to Fox. To start, she advised dimming your lights and closing your advice rung true for me since the last time my cat encountered fireworks, I had left most of my curtains open, and the shades I did have closed were quite sheer (to let the light in, on any other day!). My cat was as scared by the sight of fireworks through the window as she was by the noise and vibrations. As a result, I've made sure to have blackout curtains on hand to help us withstand future fireworks.I bought two pairs of these insulated blackout curtains, which work beautifully to shut out light, come in tons of colors and sizes and (to my relief) were sufficiently affordable. I'm finding I'm sleeping better with them up, too. Get them from Amazon for $17.60+. A popular white noise machine to help obscure outside commotion "Using a white noise machine, music or TV to help drown out environmental noise" can also help create a more tolerable environment for your pet during fireworks, according to on Fox's recommendation, we selected this highly-rated portable white noise machine, which has garnered over 42,000 5-star ratings on Amazon. It offers 20 soothing sounds and 32 volume levels, plus lets you customize its duration using its timer. In addition, since it's so compact, you can take it on trips with your pet in case you encounter fireworks or loud events wherever you're headed. Promising review: "Purchased for our dog as he is afraid of loud noises (especially fireworks and thunder). Put it on brown noise and he was unaffected this past July 4th. We also use it when thunderstorms threaten the area. He now sleeps through them. Result was totally unexpected. We thought it might help, but these results are beyond our expectations. It is little and easy to pack. 23 sound choices are a lot so there should be something for everyone." —GolfnotproGet it from Amazon for $16.79. Name tag identification in case your pet runs away Since more pets go missing on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year, it's crucial to make ensure your pet is wearing proper identification, "including cats," Fox further preparation against your pet bolting at the sound of fireworks, Fox recommended making sure that your door and all your windows are securely closed. We like this engraved aluminum name tag, which you can customize with your contact information and the color and tag shape of your choice. It's available in two sizes, sports 37,000 5-star Amazon ratings and is made to be lightweight yet reviews: "It is perfect for their 4th of July collars. Easy to read." —Rosemary"If you care for your animal, or best friend, you need to get a tag with your name and phone number. Just in case they get loose from being scared of thunder or fireworks. This tag could and does help you get reunited with them if they run loose from separation anxiety, or just roaming. Help others find you when your little one gets out." —Typical customerGet it from Amazon for $4.88. Or location-tracking devices like AirTags Fox did not specifically recommend location-tracking devices, but based on her emphasis on pet identification and our own experience as owners of pets afraid of fireworks, we think Apple AirTags are another great tool to have in your arsenal.I found out the hard way that my cat is absolutely terrified of fireworks. The first time we experienced them together, I had never witnessed a pet so heartbreakingly afraid. She bolted from my room, and despite searching for her for hours, I was unable to find her and absolutely overcome with as Fox recommended, all our windows and doors were closed. I still don't know where she had been hiding, but luckily, she did eventually emerge safe and sound once the explosions died down. After that experience, I wasted no time in buying an AirTag, and I feel immeasurably more prepared with it affixed to her collar. Its ability to track her location means that during our next brush with fireworks, I'll be able to check that she is indeed inside the house while she's hiding (plus find her to keep her company) using Apple's FindMy if the worst occurs and she does escape my home in a panic, I'll be able to find her myself, as quickly as possible. There aren't words for how much more secure her AirTag has made me feel. For me, it has been worth every can check out pet collars for AirTags on Amazon it from Amazon for $22.99.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Can ThunderShirts really help ease a dog's anxiety? Here's what a vet says
Some dogs are just a little high-strung. I have an anxious pup, and I tried it all — trainers, supplements, calming music, Dog TV and more — before visiting a vet for prescription anxiety medication. That helped, but my dog has recently become more anxious about car rides, and I've thought about adding a ThunderShirt to our rotation. Not familiar with the ThunderShirt? It's a compressive vest that applies gentle, constant pressure to your pet, similar to swaddling an infant or getting cozy under a weighted blanket. The brand recommends it for thunderstorms, fireworks, vet visits, separation anxiety and travel. But does it work? I talked to a behavior veterinarian to find out. Dr. Andrea Y. Tu, chief of veterinary behavior services at the Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group in New York City, treats animals for anxiety, reactivity and other behavioral issues. She says every dog is different, but it could be worth a shot: "It may or may not work, but it's not going to do harm." "The way Thunder Shirts work is through something called moderate- to deep-pressure compression, and in humans and in some animals, it has been shown to reduce sympathetic arousal or your 'flight or fight' response," Tu says. She adds that there's limited evidence to show that this works on dogs, but that many vets recommend trying them because there are no adverse effects. However, she also notes that not all dogs are good candidates for a ThunderShirt. For dogs who are mildly scared or anxious, it could work, but it's not the best option for dogs that are extremely anxious or going into a full-on panic. It also works best for anxiety around specific events (for instance, travel or fireworks) instead of ongoing anxiety. A good analogy, Tu says: Think about people who are scared of flying. If you're a tiny bit nervous, you might over-prepare for your flight and feel a little tense or on edge at the airport. If you're mildly nervous, you might order a drink or a cup of chamomile tea before your flight. If you're more nervous than that, you might take an over-the-counter medication, do breathing exercises, hold your partner's hand and try to distract yourself with reading or a movie. And finally, if flying sends you into a panic, you may need to work with a psychiatrist. A compression wrap or a weighted blanket isn't going to work for most people in the latter two categories, she says. So, how do you know how anxious your dog is? Mild anxiety often shows up as yawning, excessive licking (especially around the mouth and nose), frequent blinking or pacing. Dogs with more intense anxiety may put their tail between their legs, tuck their ears back, shake, cry or howl. Truly terrified dogs might stiffen up, stare, growl, snap, break through doors or soil themselves involuntarily. One caveat Tu adds is that, for your dog, anything that's new can be scary and feel weird. If your dog has never worn a shirt before, a ThunderShirt may freak them out more. "Before you go spend money on this expensive ThunderShirt, if you have like another doggy shirt or stuff like that, find a slightly more snug one and put it on your dog," Tu says. "If your dog is the type where they're like, 'I love this. I look great. I enjoy wearing shirts,' they're probably a good candidate for the ThunderShirt." For dogs that don't like wearing shirts or the feeling of something on their skin, "Don't even bother," she says. "It's going to take you more time to get them used to that than the benefit from the ThunderShirt." Of course, a ThunderShirt isn't your only option for an anxious pup. We've rounded up more ways to keep your dog calm during fireworks and thunderstorms, including an Adaptil diffuser (from the maker of ThunderShirts) and select calming dog supplements. Need pet insurance for your beloved furry friend? Check out the offers below:
