Fireworks may last only a few minutes, but for many dogs, the stress can stay a lot longer. The fear and anxiety caused by noisephobia can sometimes lead to unexpected injuries.
Today, we're sharing Bodhi's story, written by his owner, Kelcy Rourke. What seemed like a typical Fourth of July quickly turned into a trip to the emergency vet, changing the way his family prepares for fireworks season forever.
"Last Fourth of July, we did what we always do. We packed up the dogs and went to spend the evening with friends. Our dogs are used to coming with us places, and we always make safety a priority when fireworks start. We keep car kennels set up for them so they can relax safely nearby while we still spend the holiday together.
What I didn’t realize at the time was that Bodhi had developed anxiety around fireworks.
During the fireworks, he was repeatedly gnawing on his kennel. By the time the night was over, he had fractured one of his teeth and damaged several others from the stress. We ended up at the vet the next day where he needed an extraction, along with sealants placed on other teeth to help protect them moving forward. What started as a situation I thought we had safely managed quickly turned into a painful lesson and a very expensive vet bill.
It was one of those moments that makes you realize how quickly anxiety can turn into injury, even when you feel like you’ve taken precautions.
This year, we’re approaching the Fourth a little differently.
Along with the kennels and creating a safe environment, we’ve added the Ear Pro from Rex Specs to help muffle the sound of fireworks and hopefully make the night less stressful for all of the dogs. They won’t eliminate the noise completely, but reducing some of that overwhelming sound can make a huge difference for dogs who struggle with loud environments.
If your dog struggles during fireworks season, you’re definitely not alone. Preparing ahead of time, creating a calm space, and giving them tools that help them feel safer can go a long way.
Here’s hoping for a much calmer Fourth of July for Bodhi this year."
Gear up for July 4th with Ear Pro, and don't forget to follow Bodhi's adventures.