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When caring for our furbabies we must not forget about their emotional well-being. Thunderstorms and fireworks can be very frightening. This can cause them to have anxiety, pacing around the room, or panting. As some get older it can affect them even more. We want to hold them to comfort them but sometimes that doesn’t seem to be enough.
In my home, our long-haired chihuahua Bentlee walks back and forth and is confused and scared. It seems to cause Mason, our cat, to feel on edge as well.
After much research and trials, I have found these 5 things help ease the pets in my house to help them feel more at ease. I have also created a youtube music video with hours of calming music. The music helps when we all cozy up for the night.
1. Keep Calm: Make sure to stay calm and speak to your pet in a soft manner. Try to act like you don’t even hear the loud noises going on. Walk a little lighter, talk a little softer, and move a little slower. We all may have learned at some point that our energy is felt by our animals or others around us. If we are anxious or frustrated our pets will feel that negative energy.
2. Music: I have found that music has proven to work the best for our furbabies. The sounds seem to calm everyone in the house. A soft sound with a low volume. After much research, the best for cats would be a calming classical and lower tones for dogs. Below I have linked 8 hours of “Music for pets with anxiety”. This worked wonders for Bruno, the terrier mix, when my grandmother passed and he was missing her.
3. Safe Place: Make sure to shut all of the windows and doors. Depending on where you live and the weather, it may be a beautiful night and you may want to keep the windows open. It may be worth having them closed to muffle out some of the loud bangs and crackles. Let them choose where to sleep or sit. Their safe place may be under a bed or on a bed under a blanket. It is up to them and where they feel most comfortable.
4. Offer Distractions: Distractions may help some pets. Many videos on youtube can catch their attention. Treats can also help distract your furbaby from all of the festivities that are going on. Pets, like people, are all different. Some dogs want to hide while others will run around. Playing with them with treats can divert attention away from the feel of anything threatening.
5. ThunderShirts or Calming Vests: With the research I have done I found these thunderShirts and CalmingVests! Much like weighted blankets for humans, these ThunderShirts and CalmingVests can give the sense of security that is needed at this time. “The ThunderShirt is a pressure wrap for anxious dogs. It’s intended to have a calming effect by approximating the feeling of a hug and is a popular drug-free option for addressing a dog’s anxiety.” by Rover.com
