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Pomeranians & 4th of July Fireworks
Most dogs are terrified of fireworks, and for good reason. The loud noise, the quick flashes of light, and burning smell of pyrotechnics assault a dog’s senses.
So, fear of fireworks, just like with thunderstorms, has nothing to do with a dog overreacting.
Of course, never try to take your Pom to see fireworks. But, sometimes it’s impossible to avoid a dog hearing these, even from inside the home.
If this applies to you, here’s some tips:
1. Check listings both in your town and neighboring towns to know in advance when fireworks will be going off so that you can be prepared.
2. A thunder vest can help; these work by offering a swaddling and compression method that can help calm a panicked dog. It can be hard to find a quality one in a small enough size; but, the ThunderShirt Polo Dog Anxiety Jacket is a very effective choice and it fits most Poms.
The extra-extra small fits puppies and dogs 7 lbs. and under. And the extra-small fits larger Poms 8 to 14 lbs.
3. If you don’t have a thunder vest, you can try to swaddle your Pom in a small baby blanket.
4. If your Pom wants to dash away and hide, allow him to. Part of a dog panicking involves feeling vulnerable. If a dog is allowed to seek ‘shelter’, this can help him stay composed.
Outside in the sun – Staying cool
As long as it’s not raining, most likely the plan is to spend a good portion of the day outside. And, of course, you’ll want your Pom right there with you.
So if the temperatures are soaring, you’ll want to take steps to help keep your Pom cool and comfortable. Here’s some tips:
1. Don’t shave your Pom. This breed can have a nice trim to tidy things up; but, if you shave the coat it may never be able to grow back again as it was meant to be. At any rate, though the coat is a very thick double coat, breezes moving through the coat provide some cooling relief, and the fur serves to block out some of the sun’s rays which could otherwise cause sunburn.
2. Free the coat of dead hairs before a day spent outside. Use a quality de-shedding rake and the amount of dead hairs pulled out will amaze you. This can dramatically reduce the amount of fur that would have made a Pom feel hot.
Keep in mind that you’ll be removing a LOT, but you won’t be pulling out anything that’s supposed to be there. The pile of fur that’ll be thrown out are all dead hairs that were trapped in the coat and were contributing to making your Pom swelter in the hot summer heat.
3. Since the sun’s rays can bounce off ground surfaces and hit your Pom’s belly, you’ll want to prevent sunburn if your Pom will be outside for the day. Apply some canine sunblock 20 minutes before heading out.
4. If you’ll be in one spot, set up a kiddie pool. Many dogs love splashing in the water. Do be sure to set this up in the shade.
5. Use a cooling mat. These are portable and do not use cords, so they can be brought anywhere, are perfect to set up in the yard, and can also be used indoors. NOTE, that these will NOT feel cool to your touch. They do not emit cold. Rather, they work by drawing excess heat from a dog’s body.
6. Or consider a raised cot. These allow for air flow under the body, which is a good method for helping a dog stay cooler.
