It’s June, which means it is officially summertime! We hope all of our pet parents are enjoying a great summer with their fur babies, getting some sun, and staying hydrated. Summer is usually a fun time for pets and their parents to enjoy together, but there can be a major drawback: anxiety.
Do you have a pet that’s prone to anxiety? If you do, you may find that your pet has a bad reaction to holiday fireworks. Not only that, but you may go on a vacation and come home to find your pet has bad separation anxiety and tore up your living room.
There are some signs of anxiety in your pet that you can keep an eye out for such as:
- Pacing
- Shivering
- Self-harm, including excessive grooming
- Loss of appetite
- Destruction of furniture
Why is my pet afraid of loud noises?
It’s hard to say what can cause your pets to be afraid of loud noises. There aren’t any specific figures on how many dogs have noise phobia, but the AKC estimates that around 40% of those dogs also have social anxiety. Noise phobia is typically triggered by fireworks and thunderstorms, which means that summer can be a rough time for these more skittish pets. Loud noises can cause a noise-phobic pet to chew, urinate, defecate, tremble, bark, and they may even chew through walls and attempt to run away.
Have you detected these behaviors from your pet? If so, there are some solutions you can try to help ease your pet’s anxiety.
Behavioral Training
One way to help with your pet’s anxiety is behavioral training. This works for separation anxiety and for pets that are scared of loud noises. A puzzle toy or bone can go a long way in keeping your pet occupied while you’re out of the house, and this would give them a positive association with you being gone. You can do something similar with pets afraid of loud noises, by pairing the loud noise with treats so they learn to associate it with something positive. We recommend getting your pet a yummy training treat or hemp supplement to help them through this process.
Hemp & CBD
A trend in pet products that has been on the rise in recent years are hemp chews and the use of CBD. Hemp chews are excellent for calming your pet’s anxiety. HempVet products are made with high quality full spectrum CBD, along with other active ingredients to ensure your pet is getting the best. These CBD chews are calming and great for a pet with separation anxiety, or if you need to calm your pet down for travel.
Another option you can try for your pet’s anxiety needs is a hemp tincture. This is for if you prefer to administer the hemp oil directly to your pet, and typically has a higher concentration of CBD. You can get a more accurate dosing with CBD oil. The oil also includes terpenes, a part of the cannabis plant that contains many health benefits. For your CBD tincture needs, we recommend checking out our CBD products.
Zesty Paws
When it comes to anxiety, one of the best supplements you can get for your pet are those made by Zesty Paws. Made from high quality ingredients, Zesty Paws has anxiety supplements that will not only soothe your pet’s nerves, but benefit them nutritionally in other ways, along with being palatable to even picky pets. Made with soothing melatonin, Zesty Paws Advanced Anxiety Calming Chews are a great way to make sure your pet is calm. These treats are great for aiding a pet with separation anxiety or one that gets spooked by loud noises. Zesty Paws also makes their own hemp treat formulated with Suntheanine for an extra calming effect.
How to Help Your Anxious Pet on Fourth of July
Along with anxiety supplements, there are some other steps you can take to keep your pet cool, calm, and collected for this upcoming holiday.
- Close windows and curtains to help muffle the sounds of fireworks
- Keep pets indoors
- Put on calming music. It’ll go a long way in masking the sounds and keeping your pet relaxed
- Create some quiet hiding spaces for your pet to feel safe
- If your dog needs a walk, take them out earlier in the day
- A distracting toy will help keep their mind off of the sounds
- A Thundershirt to help them feel safe and secure
For a limited time, take 25% off Stress & Anxiety products to help your pup prepare for summertime anxieties.
Fourth of July can be a scary and upsetting time for your fur baby, but it doesn’t always have to be this way. For advice about managing your pet’s anxiety, hemp chews, Zesty Paws, and everything else, please reach out to our dedicated team of pet parents! You can give us a call at 1-888-316-7297 and we will be here and more than happy to help.