6 Devices and Tips if Your Pet Is Afraid of Fireworks This Fourth of July

CNET

2 days ago

Few things are worse than caring for an anxious pet that's afraid of fireworks when Fourth of July hits. It's bad for them and their health, unpleasant for you and there's not much you can do to stop it. But you can make it better.
I've rounded up several of the smartest pet gadgets that many owners have found helpful in calming their pets and preventing any pet-related issue when the big bangs begin. Here's the tech most worth investing in.
A Petcube collar tracker with nightlight
PetCube's glow and siren options help make this tracker much more useful to worried pet parents.
Tyler Lacoma/CNET
Petcube's pet tracker ($40) fits on the average collar and provides location services for pets who may bolt away. And if they run and hide in the night when fireworks go off, this model comes with a useful glowing LED light with a battery life to spot pets under decks or in corners.
Dr. Abel Gonzalez, Clinical Director and Veterinarian from online vet service company Dutch, told me, "July 4th is the busiest time for missing pets with vets seeing a 30-60 % surge in lost furry friends around those dates." Gonzalez recommends a tracker that offers GPS, such as this Petcube model, so you can use an app map if a pet has wandered far.
A Furbo pet cam
Furbo's cam requires a subscription, but you get a lot in return.
Furbo
If fireworks start early or you will be away from home at an Independence Day event, a pet camera like Furbo's ($100) can keep watch over your pet while you're away, and allow you to talk to them through a two-way audio. Today's advanced versions can also send you phone alerts if they hear barking or notifications about what the AI recognition thinks your pet is doing, like jumping on a couch -- although that may require a subscription. Plus, many can toss treats to distract worried pets.
Noise-cancelling dogphones
If your dog doesn't mind them, headphones could be a calming solution.
Famikako
Companies make noise-cancelling headphones specifically for dogs, like this $70 model from Famikako or the extra-cheap $13 Happy Hoodie. They're generally designed for larger dogs, but if your furry friend is fine with it, the noise cancelling can make a big difference. You may also find other uses for these headphones, like taking your dogs to concerts and fairs, or dealing with thunderstorms.
A smart speaker for white noise and ambient music
A smart speaker can provide distracting noise for pets who are worried about big sounds.
Amazon
A smart speaker incorporates a voice assistant and can link to a variety of music streaming services or mini-apps that can provide white noise, nature sounds, background sounds or whatever music you prefer. You can also control them remotely, use them for two-way audio communication and link them to smart devices for additional home management. An Echo speaker starts at $100 but you can find mini models for $50.
If you don't have a smart speaker, simply running a fan can help distract a pet's sensitive ears -- one occasion where I'm fine with a fan being a little noisy.
An anxiety wrap for scared doggos
Anxiety wraps can be very soothing for the right pet.
Thundervest
Like humans, some dogs feel calmed by a weighted blanket. That's why brands like ThunderShirt ($50) design anxiety wraps that accomplish something similar with a vest-like coat that dogs can wear no matter what they're doing. If your Fido responds well to wrap treatment like this when anxiety strikes, see if you can find anxiety wraps at local pet stores or order one for next time.
An aroma diffuser for calming scents
Calming scents may work well with other methods for soothing pets.
Mellow Kits
Companies make diffusers specifically for pets like this Petfriend Mellow Out kit ($32) or the ThunderEase diffuser ($25), but if you have a spare diffuser around your home you can use that, too. Pair it with a pheromone mixture that's made to help relieve stress, and it could work well with my other recommendations.
Bonus tip: Don't hesitate to contact your vet
With today's speedy telehealth options, you can often contact your vet right away if your pet is having bad anxiety (many vets will have staff specifically ready for Fourth of July). Your vet can give immediate advice, recommend calming treats or behaviors and even provide a quick prescription if necessary.
For more info about protecting loved ones, take at look at my 11 tips to prevent trespassers, my overall home security cheat sheet, and the top home security systems I've tested.