Anacapa Animal Hospital

Providing Veterinary Care in Ventura, CA since 1975.

5380 Ralston Street, Ventura CA 93003  |  (805) 644-5521
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You are here: Home / Veterinary Pet Care Tips / Ventura’s Fireworks are back…prepare your pets for this upcoming event!

Ventura’s Fireworks are back…prepare your pets for this upcoming event!

July 1, 2016 By anacapa staff Leave a Comment

ventura-dog-4th-of-july Many residents are excited that the Ventura Fireworks are back and are looking forward to August and the light displays brought about by Ventura County Fair! We, however, know a few furry residents who may not be so keen on the idea of these sparkly displays. The 2016 4th of July Fireworks Show and Family Picnic at Ventura College will open it’s gates at 5pm with the show scheduled to start at about 9pm. Once the fireworks start, you may notice some strange behaviors in your pet. Fireworks can cause high anxiety and fear in many of our patients. Shelters around the U.S. see a noticeable increase in intakes due to pets that escape  as a result of anxiety from the noise of fireworks. We offer the following suggestions for easing your pets’ anxieties and keeping your escape artist at bay during this holiday weekend.

Know the changes you should look for in your pet.

The signs of anxiety include – pacing, trembling, panting, drooling, vocalization, climbing, hiding and bolting. For most animals, it can be difficult to pin point the source of the sounds.  Pets outdoors may clamor to get inside for safety while those inside will likely try to get out fearing that the source is inside their home.  Our recommendation is that you keep your pet confined in a safe area within your home.  If your pet is crate-trained, place them in their crates.  Otherwise, a bathroom is a safe alternative.  Be sure your pet is wearing a collar with your contact number on it.  Microchips are also encouraged since they cannot be accidentally removed.

Drug-Free Remedies

  • Synthetic pheromone sprays such as Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs are available at Anacapa Animal Hospital and some local pet retailers. Synthetic pheromones mimic the phermones of the lactating female dog and happy cat, giving pets a sense of well-being and comfort. These are the same pheromones we have diffused throughout our clinic and may help calm those patients with less severe noise aversions.
  • Thunder Jackets are pressure wraps for dogs that have the calming effect of a great big hug.  You can find these at local pet stores such as the Ventura Pet Barn.  There are DIY Ace bandage wraps that can be tried as well but we recommend your pet be under close supervision while wearing them.
  • Music is also a great behavioral modifier for pets and a simple method to lessen the intimidating sounds. Playing music with a regular beat may disguise the sounds of the loud firework bursts if you are far enough away.

Medications

  • If your pet has extreme reactions to fireworks, there are short-term sedatives that can be given prior to the firework show to help your pet cope with their aversions to fireworks. The most common oral medications are Acepromazine, Xanax and Valium.  We also carry a new oral mucosal gel that can be applied on your pets gums called Sileo.   If you are concerned about your pet’s fireworks phobia, contact our office to determine what solution would be best for your pet. If your pet has been previously prescribed these medications at our clinic, click here to request a refill.

Holiday Hours: OPEN, Saturday July 2nd 8am-5pm. CLOSED, Sunday July 3rd. & Monday July 4th.

We hope you have a Happy and Safe Holiday!

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We’re AAHA Accredited

We’re AAHA Accredited

Anacapa Animal Hospital was the first pet hospital in Ventura to become AAHA accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and has been AAHA-accredited since 1986.   Our AAHA accreditation helps us offer the highest quality of … More About AAHA

We’re a Cat Friendly Practice

Cat Friendly Practice

Anacapa Animal Hospital became the first certified cat-friendly veterinary practice in Ventura, CA by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP) … More About CFP

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December 2017 Pet of the Month – Nami Terra

December 2017 Pet of the Month – Nami Terra

Pet's Name: Nami Terra Favorite Toy(s): Her "Dog Perignon" champagne bottle squeaky toy. She takes it everywhere, even on walks, and sleeps with it tucked under her chin. She keeps it in her mouth when she is trying to bark menacingly at the FedEx man, which kind of dampens the guard dog image she might be … Read More

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