New Year's Eve can be a frightening time for a pet. There are all sorts of new experiences that can rattle their nerves, from partiers talking loudly to music blaring and fireworks going off. Pet health and safety shouldn't be overlooked amid the New Year's festivities, and keeping your pet calm with these tips will help ensure they enjoy the holiday as much as you. 

How to Keep Your Pet Calm on New Year's Eve

1. Wrap Them in a Pressure Coat

Anxiety wraps are comfortable coats especially designed for pet health, and they work by applying consistent, gentle pressure to the animal's torso. By stimulating specific pressure points, they encourage relaxation. Try the coat on your pet before New Year's Eve, and make sure it’s neither too loose nor too tight and that they don't feel uncomfortable in it.

2. Give Them a Safe Retreat

Designate one room or a part of the home as the pet's safe space for the evening. A dog who is crate-trained will likely be content to spend their New Year's Eve cozied up in their kennel. If your dog isn't crate-trained, let them have a bedroom to themselves; this works well for cats too since they often feel safest when tucked away under the bed or in the back of the closet. Wherever the pet is for the evening, provide them with food and water and toys to keep them occupied.

3. Get a Prescription for Anti-Anxiety Medications

Anti-anxiety medications are safe for and effective at calming a pet prone to nervousness. Some pets can become so scared in new situations that they throw up, go to the bathroom in the house, engage in destructive or aggressive behaviors, or start to lose their hair. Anti-anxiety medications can provide fast relief to this threat to pet health and wellness.

To explore anti-anxiety medications for your pet and other methods for relieving your pet's New Year's Eve nerves, schedule an appointment with a veterinarian at Waipahu Waikele Pet Hospital. They'll make sure your cat or dog is caught up on their heartworm testing, so the medication is safe for them to use. The hospital has served Waipahu, HI, pet owners since 1972 and is equipped to address a wide range of animal needs, from managing holiday jitters to treating everyday concerns. Call (808) 671-7387 to make an appointment, or visit them online for a full list of services.