Pets & Fireworks

July 4th just passed and my two storm-phobic hounds, one galgo and one Italian greyhound dealt with the fireworks superbly. If I found a solution, it was certainly by accident, but only time will tell. This 4th we chose not to use any medications and no thundershirts. We simply watched the televised 4th of July show from the steps of the capital in Washington D.C. with the volume turned high. In addition to that, we played classical music loudly, but not blaring. I chose to watch the TV with a headset on, so I could not hear the music, and my wife listened to the music, which was louder than the TV. Our galgo, who is usually the most frightened by fireworks, casually hopped up onto my side of the bed. We had just returned from a 40 minute walk. He laid down, stretched out and remained in that spot until about 11:30. It seems we were all happy.

Were the dogs just tired from their long walk? Was it the multiple sources of sound competing against the fireworks? Or were the fireworks not quite up to snuff this year?

I personally do not know how good the fireworks were because I could barely hear them with the headset on and maybe my pets were the same way with the noise from the TV and the radio. Usually my recommendation is to select as many multiple choice answers for the problem as possible; an interior room, such as a closet, with a favorite bed, a thundershirt, some nutricalm, and music. Some dogs, if they are on thyroid supplement, get the continuous benefit of being less affected by thunderstorms and fireworks because of that medication.

There is no doubt that we will have more fireworks and multiple thunderstorms this year, but it will be 365 days until we have another 4th of July. We will try and remember to post this next year to remind those that have animals that are both storm-phobic and fearful of fireworks to try it.