Bells Ferry Veterinary Hospital

🇺🇸🎆 THIS IS NOT A NORMAL FOURTH OF JULY… PLEASE START PREPARING YOUR PETS NOW! 🐾

This year marks America’s 250th Anniversary, and because the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday, it promises to be one of the biggest, loudest, and longest fireworks weekends many of us have ever experienced!

That means fireworks won’t just happen Saturday night. Many neighborhoods will celebrate Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and even Sunday.

If your pet is nervous around loud noises, the time to prepare is NOW—not when the first firework goes off.

🗓️ START THIS WEEK

📍 Make sure your pet is microchipped.
Even more importantly, make sure your registration information is current.

Every year, frightened pets jump fences, break leashes, bolt through doors, or escape from panicked family members. A registered microchip is often what gets them back home.

💊 Talk with your veterinarian about medications.

One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is:

“I don’t want my pet to be drugged.”

We understand that feeling. But remember…

We’re not treating fireworks—we’re treating fear.

When a pet’s nervous system is overwhelmed by loud noises, they aren’t simply “scared.” Their body goes into full fight-or-flight mode. Their heart races, stress hormones surge, and rational thinking disappears.

Appropriately prescribed medications such as Trazodone, Gabapentin, Melatonin, and CBD can dramatically reduce that fear and make the weekend far less traumatic.

Please don’t wait until Friday to ask. We strongly recommend trying medications this week because every pet responds differently. Some need less medication than expected…

But far more often, pets need MORE than owners expect when their nervous system is under attack.

Testing medications early gives you and your veterinarian time to determine what works best for your individual pet.

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🏠 A DAY OR TWO BEFORE

Create a safe haven inside your home.

Choose an interior room, bathroom, closet, or covered crate away from windows where outside sounds are reduced.

Include:
✔ Thick, comfortable bedding
✔ Fresh water
✔ A small amount of food
✔ Favorite blankets or toys
✔ White noise, calming music, or a fan if helpful

The goal is to create a place where your pet already feels secure before the fireworks begin.

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🌅 THE DAY OF THE FIREWORKS

✔ Feed dinner early.

✔ Exercise and potty your dog before dark.

✔ Finish your evening routine early.

✔ Get your pet comfortably settled in their safe space before fireworks begin.

💊 Give medications BEFORE your pet becomes anxious.

This is incredibly important.

In nearly every case, medications work much better when they’re already in your pet’s system before the excitement starts.

Many pets benefit from medication the night before AND the day of major fireworks (always follow your veterinarian’s directions).

Waiting until your pet is already panting, pacing, trembling, hiding, or panicking often means you’re trying to stop a fear response that’s already fully underway—and medications simply don’t work as well once that happens.

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🧩 DON’T FORGET ENRICHMENT!

Keeping your pet mentally engaged can make a tremendous difference.

We love using:

🦴 Frozen Kongs

🧩 Puzzle toys

🥜 Lick mats

🦴 Bully sticks

🐾 Long-lasting chews

🍖 Treat-dispensing toys

Our team’s personal favorites include:

• Pet Releaf CBD Chews (we’ve seen a significant difference with our own pets)

• Woof Balls

• Woof Lick Mats

• Woof Forager Walkabout

• Red Barn filled bones

We have some VERY active Border Collies in our homes, and these are products we genuinely use ourselves. Besides keeping dogs occupied, they give pets something positive to focus on during an otherwise stressful evening.

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🚫 PLEASE DON’T…

❌ Let your pet outside after dark while fireworks are going off.

❌ Let your dog outside without a leash—even in a fenced yard.

❌ Leave indoor/outdoor cats outside during the days surrounding the Fourth of July.

❌ Leave nervous pets loose in the house if friends and family will be coming and going all weekend.

❌ Wait until your pet is terrified before giving medication.

❌ Assume your pet will “just get over it.”

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❤️ There is no single magic solution.

The safest, most successful approach is a multi-layered plan:

✔ Microchip
✔ Medication
✔ Safe room
✔ Enrichment
✔ Early routines
✔ Keeping pets securely indoors

Every pet is different, but one thing is true for all of them:

Preparation is the key.

If you think your pet may need help this holiday weekend, please call us NOW. Once the fireworks start, our options become much more limited.

Let’s work together to make this historic Fourth of July memorable for all the right reasons—and as stress-free as possible for your four-legged family members. 🇺🇸🐾