6 To-Dos to Prep Your Pets for Storm Season + Fireworks

Here are 6 Proactive To-Dos for the fur family for storms and fireworks: 

6 To-Dos to Prep Your Pup for Storm Season + Fireworks

1. Get 100% Cotton or Bamboo bed sheets for Fur kiddo to Cuddle on/in:

• Why 100% cotton or bamboo? These natural fibers are less prone to static electricity than synthetic ones.

• To further reduce static, in your dryer, use non-chemical anti-static tools like Wool Dryer Balls, Silicone Dryer Balls, Cloth Dampened With Distilled White Vinegar or even Aluminum Foil.

• Use a Humidifier: Increasing the moisture in the air can help reduce static. (The soft noise will also be helpful, to be mentioned below.)

2. Situate an area/allow them access to small nooks, closets, bathrooms, etc. with tiled or non-carpeted flooring if possible, or even access to bathtubs (ceramic tubs reduce static electricity, which is why many pets wander to them.) Also, use gates and close-off rooms to limit wandering and pacing.

3. Drown out thunder and/or fireworks with:

• Soft music, especially geared to calm dogs 

• Floor or kitchen hood fans

• Television (with *Pet Parents cuddled with Fur Family is best!)

• Close windows, blinds, curtains

• A humidifier mentioned in #1 offers soft white noise.

4. Calming adaptogens, herbals, supplements, foods leading up to and during:

• Full Spectrum CBD from trusted sources

• Chamomile tea drizzled over their meal

• Functional Mushrooms like Lion’s Mane and Reishi

• Cooling proteins in treat form or meals, like Duck, Rabbit, Fish, + Pork

• For more balanced behavior, ‘get to the gut!’ Probiotics and GI Health support for the gut-brain (vagus nerve) axis (scroll to bottom for $4 off!)

• Busy marrow bones; clean peanut butter-stuffed toy; or plan mealtime for the peak of triggering event

5. Anti-anxiety vests, shirts or jackets (ie the Thundershirt) may also be helpful for an anchoring, comforting feel. Stress-reducing head hoods are also available, adding some sound dampening, too.

6. Hooman's Pup-Management:

• Parents, TIRE OUT THE KIDDOS! Get your pups exercised! Offer enrichment! EARLY! Before a known trigger like afternoon storms or evenings of fireworks in the area.
• Get potty time done before triggering event, if possible.

• Arrange to be home; or, use a trusted pet sitter, or bring them to a family member’s home to keep pupper company during triggering events.

• And, be calm and settled yourself! Be in one comfortable place and relax. Our fur family can also sense our anxiety and even smell our cortisol levels.

• Likewise, pets feels safer and secure when we are centered and chill. Pupper will know you believe all is safe… 

• If not possible to keep your pets company:

• Leave them with distraction and enrichment games

• Snuffle mats

• Lick mats

• Interactive Pet Camera like the Furbo, with remote treat dispensing capabilities

• White noise, music, and television as mentioned above