The Fourth of July is a holiday of fun and celebration for many, but it can also be a night full of anxiety for our four-legged friends. Since we can't prevent our neighbors from setting off a chain of fireworks on the Fourth of July, we have to focus on the things we can do to help our pets stay safe and calm.

Keep reading to familiarize yourself with some basic safety measures, same-day preparation techniques, and the benefits of using calming supplements to reduce anxiety.

Safety First

Before anything else, we have to make sure our pets are safe. The best way to do this is by keeping them indoors. If your pets are outside when fireworks go off, they may get spooked and

try to run and hide. Unfortunately, they don't always run in the right direction! Just like we do, pets can get agitated and flustered when they panic which can lead to escape attempts or erratic behavior. This puts them in great danger of getting lost, running into traffic, injuring themselves, and other dreadful outcomes.

To prevent this from happening, make sure to let your dog do any necessary business outside early on and bring them in well before nightfall. Hopefully, this will prevent them from having to go outside overnight, but if it's an emergency, be sure to keep them on a leash!

Same-Day Preparation

Sometimes the best way to deal with firework anxiety is by trying to prevent it in the first place. Even if your pet is prone to a fear of loud noises or has a history of anxiety on the Fourth of July, there are some measures you can take to help them remain as relaxed as possible:

• Exercise: Make sure your furry friend gets a lot of exercise earlier in the day — this can make them more relaxed and tired at night.
• Eating: Anxious animals often have little interest in food, so feeding them earlier in the day ensures they don’t skip a meal. A hearty meal can also make your pet more relaxed or sleepy.
• Drown out the noise: Bringing your pet to an internal room of your home or a room with heavy curtains can help block out the bangs and the booms. To further dampen the noise from outside, you can turn on the TV, play calming music, or use a white noise maker.
• Compression shirts: Pressure wraps such as the Thundershirt can help make your pooch feel more secure and safe. For some dogs, going under a blanket or having one wrapped around them can have the same effect.
• Distractions: Occupying the mind helps reduce anxiety. Divert your dog's (or cat's) attention by playing their favorite games, tossing their favorite toys, and tempting them with treats!

Calming Supplements

Caring for your pet means keeping them as anxiety-free as possible. While the above methods are great to put into practice and should be the norm for pet parents on the Fourth of July, calming supplements are an amazing addition to the routine. Calming supplements such as CBD have greatly increased in popularity since being introduced to the market and can be found in the form of treats, extracts, oils, and balms.

What is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is derived from the hemp plant, and it will not get your dog high! THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical in marijuana that is responsible for the psychoactive effects, whereas CBD is responsible for feelings of calmness and relaxation.

CBD interacts with the nervous system and encourages serotonin production, which helps reduce anxiety.

These supplements are often a better choice than traditional prescription anti-anxiety medication, as they usually have fewer (if any) side effects and there also isn't a chance of adverse withdrawal symptoms like there may be with Prozac or Trazodone.

How to Choose a Supplement

CBD can come in many forms including treats and chews, extracts, balms, and oils. Choosing a high-quality CBD supplement is worth it, and there are a lot of holistic, sustainably sourced, and organic products that are sure to make both you and your pet happy.

To get great deals on exceptional CBD products from Holistic Hound, Earth Buddy, Heirloom Pets, and Austin & Kat, check out these offers just in time for the Fourth of July!

The following Offers are only available at participating Astro Neighborhood Pet Shops. The specific Offers available at your Neighborhood Pet Shop are viewable on their free Mobile App. In order to log in to the mobile app, you will first need a Pet Owner Account at your Neighborhood Pet Shop associated with your email address. Contact your local pet shop for details.

Click for Austin and Kat Offers

Click for Earth Buddy Offer

Click for Holistic Hound Offer

Click for Heirloom Pets Offer

Keeping our pets safe is a full-time job, and we have to work overtime on the Fourth of July. To make this day fun and relaxed for everyone, keep your pets inside, give them lots of love, and try out a CBD supplement to keep them calm and happy!