Big parties, loud fireworks, louder kids: Fourth of July celebrations, as much fun as they are for us, are stress factories for pets. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to keep pets calm tomorrow—and for any other summer parties (though always check with the pet's vet first).
  1. CBD. For those looking to get hemp oil, a company like Smart Organics with a focused pet product is the way to go: Non-GMO, gluten-free, and with third party lab tests for their products. When it comes to phytocannabinoids and hemp-based products, cannabidiol (CBD) has been demonstrated to be safe in humans and animals.
  2. Natural herbals. Europharma/Terry Naturally sells a Calming Formula for pets, consisting of 20mg Echinacea root extract standardized to a unique alkamide profile, to help pets keep calm all day long. St. Johns Wort, valerian, and German chamomile are all useful herbs in humans, and also, incidentally, in pets. Ark Naturals makes a supplement containing all three herbs, along with added L-Tryptophan for an extra calming boost.
  3. L-Theanine. This amino acid is often found in green tea, known to impact the release of neurotransmitters. True Hemp sells a True Calm formulation containing hemp seed, lemon balm extract, and L-Theanine to keep dogs happy and calm.
  4. Physical contact. You can’t sell a good scratch behind the ears, but you can sell dog brushes—and ten minutes spent brushing a dog can calm down a worked-up human just as much as a panicky dog.
  5. Essential oils. Just as these can help humans, they’re a great way to help calm dogs. Lavender (although not for cats!) and chamomile are options--learn more about safety here. (Note that some oils can be toxic to pets, so be sure to read up on the specific oil, applications and type of animal first, and as always check with your vet.)

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