Helping Dogs Through Fireworks: A Pet Parent’s Survival Guide

Hello again and welcome to Just Say KNOW. That's no with a k k o w. Hey, I'm your host, Maria Calabrese, and you're listening to KCAA Radio 10:50 a.m. 106.5 FM and streaming on Green Bee Life or wherever you get your podcast. Today we're talking about something that millions of pet parents face every year fireworks, stronger seasonal thunderstorms, and other unexpected loud noises can all turn an ordinary evening into a stressful one for our pets.

Now, I know many of us enjoy fireworks. After all, they're part of some of our favorite summer celebrations backyard barbecue time with family and friends. Long moonlit summer nights is a backdrop for a colorful splash of colors. But for anyone who has ever cared for a furry friend, the 4th of July can be one of the most stressful nights of the year.

If you've ever spent an evening trying to comfort a trembling dog or searching for a frightened pet, you know all too well that for millions of dogs across the country, there's another side to these loud and colorful booms. It's a completely different experience through the eyes and ears of a dog. The loud, explosive booms, the flashes of light, the unpredictability of sounds that seem to be coming from nowhere and yet everywhere.

For some dogs, it's a nonevent, a minor annoyance, but for others it can be genuinely frightening and even physically uncomfortable because of the intensity of the sound. And if you've ever spent the 4th of July leading, the noises would just stop ready pacing your house with your poor anxious pet, or worrying about whether your dog might bolt through a loose or a open gate.

Then you know exactly what I'm talking about. Because for many parents, fireworks season isn't about celebrating at all. It's about just trying to get through the night. This topic is so deeply personal for me. Everything I'll be sharing today about what I've learned on how to come, and Anxious Dog has come from years of experience asking questions, making mistakes, and consulting with animal behaviorism veterinarians.

Now, for years, I had a German shepherd, Roxy and all that poor girl. She dreaded fireworks, thunderstorms, smoke alarms, unexpected booms. Anything loud and unpredictable would send her searching frantically for a place to hide. The problem was, there really wasn't a place to hide from the noise. Like many of you, my husband John and me, we try to everything to help calm her.

Ranging from calming vest to prescription anti-anxiety medications. Long before we ever learned about CBD as an option, we closed windows, turned up the television, created a quiet room, adjusted our holiday plans, and over time, we learned that helping our anxious puppet required an enormous amount of patience, preparation, and a willingness to try different approaches or combination approaches. We also learned that what works for one dog may not necessarily work for another.

That's one of the reasons I wanted to dedicate today's episode to the topic, because if you're trying to help your pet cope with fireworks and noise anxiety, you're not alone. And more importantly, I wanted to share things with you that I've learned along the way that you can consider before the fireworks begin. Today we'll hear from veterinarian doctor Tim Hsu, founder of vet CBD and one of the leading voices in cannabinoid education for family pets.

We'll talk about why fireworks and other loud noises can be so stressful for our dogs. Why? July 5th is one of the busiest times of the year for animal shelters will separate some of the biggest myths from the facts when it comes to cannabis and pets. We'll talk about what happened when I found a frightened dog running loose after fireworks, and how that dog eventually became part of my family and heart.

Will also explore a question I've been wondering about for years. Why does some dog sleep through fireworks while others are absolutely terrified? Is it breed, personality, age, or something entirely different or a combination thereof? We'll discuss CBD as one potential tool, among several other herbal alternatives and behavioral techniques to help alleviate anxiety, and we'll share resources available for anyone seeking additional support.

This episode isn't just about fireworks, it's about helping our pets feel safe in general and giving ourselves the confidence to make informed decisions when life becomes loud, stressful, and unpredictable. So settling. Pull up a dog. Or maybe a leash if your dog is itching for a walk. Pop in your ear buds if you're on the go. And if you're driving, heads up.

Let's get started. This is Just Say KNOW

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Hello and welcome back. You're listening to Just Say KNOW. I'm your host, Maria Calabrese. Coming to you from California's Inland Empire. Hey, if you're just joining in, welcome. We're discussing ways to calm our anxious pets during fireworks and other life stressors. Now, for new pet parents or anyone who has never shared their life with man's best friend, it's super easy to assume dogs experience fireworks and loud noises the same way people do.

After all, we know it's the 4th of July. Or maybe it's New Year's Eve, or maybe a summer thunderstorm. We understand what's happening. We know that Latinos are temporary. We know the flashes of light in the sky are part of a celebration or a weather event. Most importantly, we know bull eventually stop. But dogs don't have any context.

They don't know the first boom is connected to the next one. They don't know whether the sound is moving toward them or away from them. Try to imagine the impact of that on a herding dog, bred to be so keenly aware and in control of its surroundings. They can't distinguish whether the loud sounds are dangerous or just another neighbor's party or storm.

They simply know that the world they thought was safe suddenly sounds and feels like a war zone. It's a little like if you're sitting quietly in your living room when and without any warning, explosions begin popping outside your window without you knowing what they are, where they're coming from, or knowing when they'll stop or whether they're getting closer.

Most of us would be startled and stressed on top of that, for a dog not understanding that everyone around them is perfectly safe is another layer to help us better understand what's happening from our pets perspective. I want to bring in veterinarian Doctor Tim Hugh, Doctor Who is the founder of vet CBD and one of the leading voices in cannabinoid education for companion animals.

I asked him why fireworks can be so stressful on our pets.

A lot of pets are frightened by the fireworks because they don't understand what fireworks are. They don't understand. It's a celebration to them. It's just loud, scary sounds that just come out of nowhere and seemingly randomly. Because, you know, I hear fireworks throughout the day time too. So, I mean, you can't see them, but, you know, they're still going off.

And so this generates a lot of noise based anxiety in our pets, you know, especially with dogs and cats. But other animals can get it too, because they're just loud, scary sounds. And a lot of times animals have greater sensitivity in their hearing than we do. So, you know, if we're able to hear it, they're definitely able to hear it.

I think Doctor Shu makes an incredibly important point. One that completely changed the way I started thinking about fireworks. For us, fireworks have meaning. We understand the context our dogs don't, and context changes everything when we hear fireworks. Our brains inform us, oh, it's a holiday or a celebration or an event. When our dogs hear those same sounds, instinct takes over before reason ever has a chance.

That bears repeating for our dogs. Once triggered, instinct takes over before reason ever has a chance. And they can't be faulted for that. And that brings us to something I didn't fully appreciate until I began learning more about canine behavior. Dogs experienced the world very differently than we do. We rely heavily on vision. Dogs rely heavily on their noses and their ears.

In fact, many behaviorists will tell you that dogs experience the world through scent first and sound second. Vision is important, but it's not the primary source of information for dogs the way it is for most humans, which is one reason sudden, unfamiliar sounds can feel so overwhelming to them. Researchers estimate the dogs can hear sands of frequencies nearly twice as high as Germans can, and that can end.

They can often detect sounds from much farther away. That means your dog may hear fireworks or thunder before you ever hear the first boom. They may even hear ACOs and higher pitched components of the explosion that we never notice at all. So for most of us, a firework is loud before our dogs. They may be experiencing that's not just louder, but far more intense.

And then there's another challenge dogs face. It's not simply the volume, it's the unpredictability. One boom followed by silence, but for how long? Then another. Then three. Boom boom boom in rapid succession and nothing for five minutes. Boom. Then another explosion. There's no rhythm, no warning, nothing for your dog to anticipate. You know, this reminds me of being startled unexpectedly from a deep, peaceful, CBD induced restorative sleep by my husband's sudden and unexpected snoring, which makes me too anxious to fall back to sleep.

Not knowing when or if more loud sounds in my ear are yet to come. Animal behaviorists often talk about the importance of predictability. Animals generally cope much better when they know what to expect. Think about your own dog or someone you may know who has a dog. They know when breakfast usually happens. They know when it's time for the walk.

They know what it sounds like when you pull into the driveway after work. Dogs find comfort in routine. Routine builds confidence. Fireworks do exactly the opposite. They remove predictability. And once predictability vanishes, some dogs begin looking for safety. That search for safety can look different from one dog to another. Some dogs tremble. Some dogs pace. Some dogs bark.

Some pant. Some hide under beds or in closets. Some become unusually clingy. Others may stop eating. Have accidents in the house or continue showing signs of anxiety long after the fireworks have ended. Others simply just shut down and become very quiet and unfortunately, some dogs panic. They jump fences, push through screen doors, flip their collars or bolt thrown open gate in a desperate attempt to get away from the unpredictable.

In some cases, ear piercing sounds that they can't understand. They're not being stubborn. They're not being disobedient. They're certainly not trying to make life difficult for us. The responding exactly the way thousands of years of instinct tells them to respond. As far as your dog's perspective is concerned, running isn't irrational, its survival. Their brain is telling them to create as much distance between themselves and what they perceive as a threat of danger that they can't even source.

And understanding that changes the conversation. Instead of asking, why is my dog acting like this, we begin asking, what is my dog experiencing? That's a very different question, and I think one of the most important shifts a parent can make, because once we understand what our dog is experiencing, where in a much stronger position to know that's no with a K, how to help them feel safe again.

And as you are aware, I like to say Just Say KNOW, no with a K. And that brings me to a story I want to share that reinforced just how quickly a frightening situation can become a life changing one. It was the July 5th, 2018 evening after Independence Day. Another triple digit summer day had passed in California, San Fernando Valley.

I was driving with our German Shepherd, Roxy 830 at night. It was still 89 degrees when she suddenly lunged her head out the window and started barking. At first I didn't know what had caught her attention. Oh, then I saw her, a small dog running frantically across the street. She was zigzagging through traffic from one side of the road across to the other, looking completely terrified and disoriented.

It wasn't until later that I realized the black pavement was scorching hot. Her little feet were so badly burned, she was desperately trying to find patches of shade as she ran from one side of the street to the other. You know, looking back now, I honestly believe in my heart of hearts that Roxy saved her life. Had Roxy not barked when she did?

I may never have seen that little dog in time to swerve, screech and stop. I pulled the car over, turned on my flashers, and carefully tried to gain her trust. Thankfully, I was able to get her safely into my car. My first thought wasn't keeping her. It was finding her family. I took her to the closest animal emergency hospital, where she was treated for dehydration and burns on her paws.

We scanned for a microchip. Nothing. We contacted nearby veterinarian offices and shelters. We posted online. We papered surrounding streets with fliers. We drove the neighborhood. We knocked on doors. We did everything we could think of to reunite her with her family. And then we waited. And we waited some more. Days passed. Them weeks. No phone calls, no leads.

No one ever came forward to claim her. I've been told sometimes we rescue a dog, and sometimes a dog rescues us. These little four legged souls have an incredible way of changing our lives when we least expect it. It's hard to imagine our lives now without her, so we eventually named her MJ. Now, her name carries several special meanings.

She's named after the initials of our past two dogs, Maggie and one Ada. God rest their souls. And yes, considering I'm Maria, my husband is John, and we work in the cannabis industry. MJ was a no brainer. What began as a terrifying fireworks escape eventually became one of the greatest gifts. Our family never expected. Over the years, she's brought us unconditional love, belly laughs, companionship, and been just demanding enough to keep us on our toes.

But not every story ends this way. For every MJ, there are countless frightened pets that become separated from their families. I told you this was personal to me during firework season. Some are reunited. Some find their way into shelters. Some are rescued by kind strangers, and heartbreakingly, some are never released from those shelters or ever found. That's why I wanted to share From My Heart to yours, MJ July 5th story with you today because it's easy to thank.

My dog would never run away or that can never happen until it does. And MJ's story also taught me something else. What happened to her wasn't unusual. In fact, veterinarians in animal hospitals and shelters brace for it every single year. When I first heard Doctor Tim Shu explained just how busy shelters become after the 4th of July, it stopped me in my tracks.

My fifth is actually the busiest time of year for animal shelters. And the reason why is because the night before, all the animals are trying to run away from the fireworks noise. So, you know, one of the most important things is to make sure that your fences and your gates and your doors are secured, and then also to make sure that you have proper identification on your pets, and whether that's in the form of tags and collars or microchip.

That statistic is a powerful reminder that fireworks anxiety isn't just about stress, it's about safety. Every summer, animal shelters prepare for an increase in loss pets this time of the year, emergency veterinarian hospitals also see more injuries related to escapes. He burns an accidental trauma. This is one of the reasons animal welfare organizations begin reminding us weeks before the 4th of July, because they've seen the same pattern year after year here in Los Angeles.

Organizations like L.A. Animal Services, Los Angeles County Animal Care, Best Friends Animal Society, local rescues, foster families, and countless volunteers work around the clock helping Los animals find their way home. As someone whose own family was forever changed by one frightened little terrier adorable mix, I have an enormous appreciation for the people who answer those phones, scan those microchips, create space and overcrowded shelters for just one more, and never stop hoping that one more family will be reunited.

Their work often goes unseen, but it makes an enormous difference for both pets and their families searching for them. If you've ever considered fostering, volunteering, or making a donation to your local shelter, this is one of the most meaningful times of the year to help. Around the 4th of July, shelters are in need of extra space towels, blankets, hands and support to care for the sudden influx of lost animals.

If today's story inspires you to do one thing before fireworks season arrives, let it be this. Please take five minutes to check your pet's microchip registration, and may be one of the most important five minutes you ever spend. A microchip is only as useful as the information attached to it. If your phone number is changed, your address has changed, or your emergency contacts have changed.

Please update them today, not after your pet goes missing. A shared story and why fireworks season has become so personal for our family. But there's another one. Long before MJ came into our lives, we were already trying to help our stories. Hero Roxy navigate 4th of July fireworks that now seemed to explode for the entire summer season. Roberts's story begins when she was just four weeks old.

She weighed barely 2 pounds when our vet tech Israel found her abandoned in an Agora Hills, California parking lot. Now Israel knew exactly who to call. From that moment on, she became part of our family. We quickly learned that Roxy was a loyal dog and breed intelligent, gentle, and incredibly sensitive to loud noises. She was the kind of dog who always wanted to know where everyone in the house was.

If someone walked into another room, she'd quietly follow. She wasn't anxious by nature. She she just simply wandered her people together. A true shepherd. Her first 4th of July experience caught us completely off guard and by surprise, John and I had gone to Newport Beach for what we thought would be a quick overnight trip, leaving Roxy with a familiar pet sitter.

The sitter, Feder, walked her and stepped out to go to her own holiday event. When she came back. She found the crown molding around her front door completely chewed off the wall. Roxy had been so terrified by the noise, she was desperately trying to literally chew her way out. When we came home and saw the damage, our reaction was pure heartbreak followed by guilt.

Until that moment, we had no idea how deeply fireworks or loud noises affected her. Let me tell you, for the next 14 years, John and me spent every 4th of July at home with her. With the television on windows closed, the shades drawn, Roxy wrapped in her little calming vest. Like so many pet parents, we desperately hold the fireworks with just and every loud boom caused visible anxiety.

And it wasn't just the 4th of July thunderstorms, smoke alarms, construction noise, anything loud or unexpected could trigger the same response. There were years when John and me, so beside ourselves, we would look at each other and say, let's just get in the car and drive. We'd had north on the 101 from the San Fernando Valley toward Camarillo.

We parked in a canyon between the 101 and PCH. We'd head up the Pacific Coast Highway toward Santa Barbara. We actually believed we might be able to outrun the fireworks in our little old car. There truly was no escaping. Boom boom boom boom and more booms. Eventually we tried a calming vest, and for Roxy, it was the first thing that really seemed to help.

I think the sensation of the gentle pressure offer the feeling of being swaddled, which counter, as with anything else, they don't work on every dog, but for some they do provide reassurance during stressful situations. One thing I've learned over the years is there usually isn't one solution that works for every pet. It's about finding the right combination for your dog and understanding what the options are.

And that's exactly what Doctor Shu means when he talks about taking a multimodality approach. One strategy builds upon another environmental support, behavioral support, establishing a routine veterinarian guidance, and when appropriate. CBD could be very calming. Something I never expected. We didn't begin using CBD for Roxy initially because of fireworks. Wasn't until years later when Roxy began to age.

We started exploring CBD to support her mobility, and Bever occurred to us that it could help her with her noise anxiety. The first 4th of July after she started taking CBD, which helped her mobility tremendously. I have to say, we noticed she seemed less reactive to the loud noises. At first we thought we were imagining it, and then throughout the fireworks season, she gradually became less impacted by the noise.

The one thing dogs teach us observation matters. Sometimes the most important changes are the ones you notice over time. Not overnight. She wasn't completely unaffected, but she also wasn't nearly as distressed. And each year she stayed on the CBD. She became less distressed by loud noises. Over time, she didn't even need her calming vest anymore. We had a positive experience with full spectrum CBD tincture.

I've also spoken with parents whose dogs responded differently or not at all to CBD. Every dog is unique. Body weight, metabolism, age, overall health, and every type of CBD formulation is different. Whether it's broad spectrum or full spectrum, hemp derived can influence how each unique dog response. I really appreciate brands and doctors that do not present CBD or cannabis as a cure all.

It's a tool that may or may not be appropriate for some pets as part of a larger wellness plan. I truly appreciate that CBD philosophy, their formulations, and the way doctor approaches CBD. Let's have a listen.

So what we've seen over the years is that the amazing thing about CBD based formulations is that they have a lot of anti-anxiety properties, and we see this especially with noise anxiety. Every 4th of July, we have a lot of clients that use it very successfully with their pets to help decrease their anxiety and help restore that calm sense that they have.

Before the fireworks started happening.

What struck me wasn't just what doctors said about CBD. It was his emphasis on looking at the whole animal, not just one symptom. One of the reasons his holistic approach resonates with me so deeply is because it's very similar to what I had to learn managing my own chronic back pain. There's really one solution. It's usually a combination of preparation patients, environmental factors, diet, exercise, natural supplement alternatives, working with trusted professionals, and understanding your pet's unique needs.

I think one of the biggest lessons Roxie taught me was that helping our pets isn't always about finding the perfect solution. It's about paying attention. Trying different approaches, working with your veterinarian, meeting your pup where they are. And that's true. Whether we're talking about finding the right modality or modalities for arthritis, fireworks, or simply helping our dogs through life's inevitable changes.

Every stage of a dog's life asks something different of us. Puppies need patience. Adult dogs need consistency. Senior dogs often need a little more understanding and support. Our job changes as they change. That's part of the privilege of sharing our lives with them. Because at the end of the day, that's what our dogs, instinctively and effortlessly, I might add, do for us every day on the daily rain or shine.

They made us exactly where we're at. And I believe they deserve the same from us. But here's the interesting part and overdo it. There's another insight doctor shared that completely changed the way I thought about how I was meeting Roxy, where she was at once. She was frightened, like most of you. My first instinct was simple. If Roxy was scared, I wanted to make it all better.

I'd sit beside her, talk softly, pet her, cuddle her, tell her everything was going to be okay. That felt natural. Instinctive. It's what we do when someone we love is hurting, right? But when I sat down to speak with Doctor Shu, he introduced me to a whole different way of thinking. Not because comforting our pets is wrong, but because how we respond can sometimes influence how they experience future stressful situations.

I'd like you to hear, as Doctor Shu explains, how to support our pets without unintentionally reinforcing their fear. Let's have a listen.

I think one thing that's really important is to understand the animal's mentality. A lot of times when people see that their pets are afraid, they will tend to talk to them in a really soothing voice. The tend to try to give them treats, to calm them or relax them. But this can actually have the reverse effect because in essence, what they may be thinking is that you're rewarding them for that fearful behavior.

And so what I would encourage people to do is talk to a board certified veterinary behaviorist out there that deal with all kinds of behavior issues, especially with noise anxiety, to help them understand the steps that they can do to help their pet be a little bit less afraid of things like, you know, fireworks, loud noises, and things like that.

I remember hearing that for the first time and thinking, really? Because my instinct was to scoop Roxy up, hug her and reassure her that everything was okay. But Doctor Shoes really talking about is helping our dogs build confidence instead of unintentionally positively reinforcing that every loud noise is something to fear. I had to learn this. It doesn't mean ignoring your dog.

It doesn't mean withholding comfort. Trust me. And it certainly doesn't mean pretending they're not frightened. It means paying attention to how and when we offer reassurance. We don't want to offer it in a way that rewards them, reinforces their shaking and fearful reactions. You know, I'm reminded of a story my roommate who was studying developmental psychology at the time when I was in grad school, shared with me.

She told me about not a dog, but this is parallel. A four year old little boy who fell and scraped his knee while playing with his sitter up in the attic when he was reunited with his mom. She had been in another room in the house. She immediately noticed this scrape and said, oh my gosh, what happened? I didn't even hear you cry.

And he just looked at her and responded, I didn't know you were home.

You know, that about sums it up beautifully. I love that story. For some dogs and toddlers, calmly sitting nearby may not only be enough, but exactly what they need to grow and gain confidence for others. Redirecting your dog's attention with a favorite toy, a familiar routine, or another positive activity may be more helpful. Behavior is sometimes refer to this as changing the emotional association.

Instead of focusing entirely on the frightening event and the dog's reaction to it. We're gently helping our dogs discover they can simultaneously still feel safe doing something they like, despite what's happening around them. Again, every dog is different. If your dog's anxiety is severe or getting worse over time. Please don't hesitate to seek professional guidance depending on which state you live in.

That may include veterinarian or qualified animal behavior, behavior professional and CBD. The more we understand what's happening from our dogs perspective, the better equipped we are to help them through it. I certainly didn't know any of this from Roxy was a puppy and looking back, I sure wish I had. Like so many of us, I was learning right alongside her.

And maybe that's one of the greatest gifts our pets give us. They teach us to Just Say KNOW with a k k n o w. Keep learning. Speaking of which, I'd like to switch gears a little now and answer some of your questions. I've received hundreds of questions from parents about fireworks season, CBD, loud noises, cannabis and helping anxious dogs and stressful situations.

So let's spend the next few minutes answering some of the ones I hear most often. What's the difference between a CBD tincture and a CBD dog treat? Do they work differently? You know, that's a great question. Both may offer support, but they have different advantages. Tinctures generally allow for more precise serving adjustments, especially if you're microdosing. You can measure the precise amount, customize it based on your dog size and individual needs.

Treats are more convenient. They're portable, they travel easy, and most dogs happily accept them without a second thought. But they do come in a fixed dose, typically five milligrams each, so they can be difficult to break up into smaller pieces for a lesser dose if needed. Neither approach is universally better. It's about finding what works best for you, your dog, and your lifestyle.

Whatever product you choose, please always look for one that's formulated specifically for pets and backed by independent third party lab testing. Okay, we'll try to get to more of these if there is time. We are moving quickly through this show. But one other question and then I'll try to get back to some others I often get, and I've often wondered myself, is why do some dogs seem completely unfazed by fireworks, while others are absolutely bonkers terrified?

Is a breed personality, age? Past experiences? Or is it simply luck? I think the answer is probably a little bit of all those things after I looked into this. While every dog has its own unique individual personality traits. Dogs also carry thousands of years of instinct. Border Collies in Australian Shepherds, for example, are incredibly aware of movement and changes in their surroundings because they were bred to herd livestock.

Guardian breeds like the Great Pyrenees or My favorite. The more I, my sheepdog, the Maremma, Abruzzo or the Anatolian shepherds, they're vigilant. They stay alert because watching over and protecting their family and flock is the main part of what they do. What they were bred to do. Sporting breeds such as Labrador Retrievers. The Golden retrievers. They often have different temperaments.

Even within the same litters. You'll see completely different personalities within these breeds. And then there are the companion breeds. Many simply just want to be wherever they're people are. If you're anxious, they're anxious. If you leave the room they follow, they're looking to you for reassurance. Don't ignore that. Cats. They're a little different. Most don't come looking for comfort.

They mainly quietly disappear under the bed into a closet behind the couch, sometimes long before the fireworks even begin. Those instincts don't disappear just because our dogs and cats now sleep on our couches and in our beds. They often continue to influence how they experience the world around them. Take Roxy, the German Shepherd. German Shepherds were bred, is hurting and working dogs, but they quickly became known for their intelligence, their loyalty, and their keen sense of awareness of their surroundings.

They're constantly paying attention, watching. They're watching, listening and assessing. It's one of the reasons their trusted is police dogs, military dogs, search and rescue dogs, guide dogs and service animals. They're wired to notice when something changes and they're constantly assessing. So if we think about fireworks from the perspective of a dog with those traits unfamiliar loud explosions, bright flash is strange smells, no obvious source, no clear direction, no explanation, no way to assess whether the danger is getting closer or farther away could be the ultimate threat.

She wasn't being difficult. She wasn't being dramatic in her reaction. She was responding exactly the way. Generations as German shepherds were bred to respond. That doesn't mean every German Shepherds triggered by fireworks. Far from it. We've probably all met 1 or 2 slept right through the fireworks. I met labradoodle, so go into a panic. Which brings us back to something important.

Breed may influence certain tendencies, but it doesn't write the whole story. We can't overlook how much personality matters. Are the old nature versus nurture. Some dogs are naturally confident. It's just in their biology. Some are more cautious. Some recover quickly after something startles them. Others take longer. That add to the mix. Life experience with your dog well socialized as a puppy.

Was there a frightening experience associated with loud noises? Was your dog adopted as an adult with an unknown history? Did they spend time in a shelter? Were they rescued from neglect? Sometimes we just simply don't know. Those experiences become part of who they are and influences how they experience things. Age also changes things. The dog that ignored fireworks for years may suddenly become more sensitive as they get older.

Sometimes that's related to cognitive aging. Sometimes it's discomfort from arthritis or other health changes. Sometimes it's simply that older dogs process stress differently than younger dogs in each case. CBD has been known by many. Myself included, to be helpful. And puppies. Their very first fireworks season can shape how they respond for years to come. We learned this after Roxy and as a result, became very intentional in shaping how each of our new dogs were introduced to their first fireworks experience.

Something veterinarians and trainers often encourage is to actively create positive introductions to new experiences whenever possible. We try our best to create a safe, fun experience associated simultaneously with the loud noises. So after everything we've talked about today, what should we take away? I think it's this we cannot compare our dog to someone else's, even if it's the same breed.

Your neighbor's dog isn't your dog, your last dog, who may have done really well on a full spectrum CBD and tolerated loud noises, isn't your current dog. Our job isn't to ask, why isn't my dog acting like theirs? Our job is to ask, what does my dog need from me? That's a very different question, and in many ways, it's one of the most important lessons Roxy taught me.

Pay attention. Observe. Notice what helps. Notice what doesn't. Because our dogs are communicating with us all the time. We just need to slow down enough to listen. Okay, one topic we simply can't finish today's conversation without focusing on is cannabis. After all, this is Just Say KNOW produced by Green Be Life. Over the past several years, we've seen public interest in CBD grow tremendously, exponentially.

You can find CBD products almost everywhere pet stores, feed stores, online retailers. And with that growing interest. This come something else a tremendous amount of confusion and misinformation. One question I get all the time when pet parents are considering trying CBD is what's the difference between CBD and cannabis? Or if CBD helps me relax? Can I give some to my dog?

Let's start perhaps with the biggest misconception. CBD and THC are not the same thing. Yes, they both come from the cannabis plant. Yes, they both have cannabinoids, but they behaved very differently in the body. THC is the primary intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis. It's the compound responsible for the high with marijuana. CBD is different. It's not intoxicating. It doesn't produce the euphoric effects associated with THC.

That's one of the reasons CBD has received so much attention from consumers and researchers over the past decade. Now, here's something that surprised me and many people. Dogs react differently to cannabinoids than humans do. In fact, dogs appear to be significantly more sensitive to THC than people are. That's why veterinarians take accidental exposure very seriously, as should you, especially around holidays.

Veterinarian hospitals often report an increase in pets accidentally consuming human cannabis products. Sometimes it's a brownie left on the coffee table. Guys, you have to be careful around pets and children. Sometimes it's a gummy left out in the open. Sometimes it's a backpack at the park or beach that they get into. Sometimes it's a thrown away pre-roll picked up during a walk, and occasionally it's a well-meaning parent who simply doesn't understand the difference between THC, CBD, and human products and ones specifically formulated for our pets.

One of the most important messages I can leave you with today is this never assume that because something is safe or appropriate for you or helps you, it's automatically appropriate or going to be helpful for your pets. Think about chocolate or fireworks for that matter. Many of us enjoy chocolate every day. I know I do. Dogs cannot. The same is true for products containing xylitol, an artificial sweetener that's found in some candies, baked goods, chewing gum, and even certain peanut butter.

You have to be careful with peanut butter. No peanut butter for your dogs that has little in it. Something that seems completely harmless. Sitting on your kitchen counter can become a medical emergency for a curious dog. Cannabis products are no different. Human products are formulated for humans, not our pets. Human gummies may contain significantly higher concentrations of THC than a veterinarian.

Whatever recommend for a dog if they're in a state where they're allowed to recommend cannabis. But that's another episode. Many guns also contain ingredients that have nothing to do with cannabinoids, but may still present and be harmful like chocolate, xylitol, caffeine, artificial flavors. And then they're serving sizes and edible. Intended for 150 pound adult instead of a 20 pound dog can become a medical emergency.

That's why I always encourage listeners to slow down before making assumptions. Get the information first. What's the goal of giving your pet cannabis? Why do you want to give your dog CBD? What else is going on with your dog's health? Want medications? Are they taking? How old are they? Discussing these questions with a health care professional serves as a much better roadmap than simply asking someone, what should I buy?

Another fascinating thing I wanted to mention is that humans aren't the only species with an endocannabinoid system. Dogs have long. Cats have one, in fact. Scientists have identified endocannabinoid system throughout the entire animal kingdom. All animals have one except insects. We've talked a great deal about cannabinoids, but what exactly is the endocannabinoid system? Well, don't worry, I'm not going to ask you to memorize the science.

One way to think about it is as one of the body's natural balancing systems, researchers believe it plays an important role in helping maintain what's known as homeostasis, which is a scientific way of saying balance or equilibrium. It serves to help our body maintain its normal internal balance despite the demands of everyday life. It helps balance how our bodies normal physiological processes respond to everyday challenges.

Researchers continue studying how cannabinoids interact with this remarkable system in both humans and animals. And while we've learned a tremendous amount over the past several decades, there's still a great deal we don't know. That's one of the reasons I encourage people to be skeptical of anyone or brand claiming cannabinoids are a miracle cure. Science doesn't work that way.

Responsible education acknowledges both what we know and what we're still learning. When discussing cannabinoids and CBD specifically, it's worth noting also that CBD isn't the only ingredient that may be helpful in calming an anxious pet. Many veterinarian formulated calming products combine CBD with other ingredients that have been studied for their calming or relaxation supporting properties. You may see ingredients like L, A9, and amino acid naturally found in green tea that may help promote relaxation without causing drowsiness.

Some products include an apple herb that's been studied for its potential help to help the body respond to everyday stress. Others may contain herbs such as camomile or valerian root. Both have long histories of traditional use for relaxation. What's important to remember is that these ingredients are not exclusive to CBD products. Many calming supplements formulated without cannabinoids use these same ingredients on their own in or in a combination.

So if CBD isn't appropriate for your dog or legal in your state, or simply isn't something you're interested in exploring, you may still find products that use some of these other natural ingredients on their own. Again, every dog is different. Some pets may respond well to one approach. Others may respond better to another. That's why I encourage you to look beyond the marketing on the front of the package, and take a closer look at the ingredient panel.

As a savvy consumer, ask yourself what ingredients are included? What are they? Is there independent testing and is this product formulated specifically for pets? Sometimes people become so focused on the letter CBD that they overlook the rest of the formulation, but in many products, it's the combination of thoughtfully selected ingredients working together that makes the formulation unique. I like to compare choosing a calming product with choosing a healthy recipe.

It's rarely about one single ingredient. It's about understanding how the ingredients interact with your bodies and work together. One thing I need to mention is that quality matters. Not every CBD product is created equally. One of the first things I tell people to look for, and that I look for, is the independent third party lab testing. You'll often hear that referred to as a certificate of analysis or a CoA.

I like to think of the CoA as a report card. It tells you what's in the product and whether the cannabinoid content matches the label, whether it has been screened for things like pesticides, heavy metals, residual solvents, and microbial contaminants. In other words, don't simply trust the marketing. Finally, I want to leave you with one thought I think sits at the heart of green Bee life.

We're not here to convince anyone that CBD is right for every dog. It isn't. We're also not here to tell you what to buy. There are plenty of people willing to do that. That's not our mission. Our mission has always been much simpler. It's to help audiences ask better questions, to understand the science as a continue to evolve, to recognize the difference between marketing and evidence, and to give parents the information they need to make informed decisions alongside the professionals they trust and within the laws and regulations where they live.

Because that's what education is really about. Not replacing your judgment, helping you strengthen it, helping you ask better questions, helping you become more confident to advocate for the animals you love. Today's conversation extended beyond fireworks a noise anxiety because the truth is, our dogs experience stressful moments all throughout their lives. Sometimes it's fireworks. Sometimes it's a thunderstorm. Sometimes it's moving to a new home.

Sometimes it's a vet visit. Sometimes it's welcome. Welcoming a new baby into the family, a new puppy, a new spouse, construction next door or simply growing older. Life changes. And every time life changes. Are dogs experiencing those changes right alongside us? Routines create confidence to endure these changes. Think about your own dog for a moment. I bet they know exactly where the treats are kept.

What time they're going to eat, which draw you open before grabbing the leash. Dogs can even recognize the sound of your car pulling into the driveway long before you reach the front door. They live in patterns. They find comfort in familiarity. When those patterns suddenly change. Some dogs adapt quickly. Others need a little more help. And that's perfectly okay.

One of the biggest mistakes I think we make as humans is expecting our dogs to adjust on our timetable. We move, we unpack. We expect them to feel at home when we do so. Whether they need a familiar blanket, a reassuring hug, a treat with CBD or chamomile, or a little of both. Our dogs deserve a little grace too.

In the end, helping our dogs isn't really about controlling every situation. We can't stop everything under storm or firework. We can't prevent every loud noise. We can't eliminate every stressful experience. Life simply doesn't work that way. That's why God gave us cannabis. Oh, gosh. All kidding aside, what we can do is help our dogs build confidence. We can create routines.

We can prepare thoughtfully. We can continue learning, and we can become calmer, more observant patterns. Because our dogs are incredibly resilient. Trust me, they don't expect perfection from us. They simply ask us to show up. Pay attention to learn what they who they are, to recognize what they need, and to meet them where they are. You know, there's an old saying that.

You know, that dog spend only a chapter of their lives with us, but for them, we're the entire story. I think that's worth remembering. Every walk, every road trip, every quiet evening, every firework season, every ordinary Tuesday. They're all part of the life we build together. I think that's why these conversations matter. Not because they're about fireworks, but because they're about becoming better guardians of the animals who trust us with their wellbeing every single day.

If today's conversation sparked new questions or you'd simply like to learn more, we've gathered a number of resources to help visit. You'll find our companion Learning Center article CBD for Dogs and Fireworks Anxiety with practical tips, a printable preparation checklist, trusted references, and additional resources you can revisit throughout the entire year. You'll also find an earlier episode of Just Say KNOW.

Episode two cannabis for pets with insights from Doctor Tim Shu along with our companion GBL TV No one Go Video where Doctor Shu shares additional insights into cannabinoids, pet wellness, and helping animals navigate stressful situations. If you'd like personalized gardening, if you'd like personalized guidance for your own pet, Doctor Shu also offers educational consultations for parents interested in learning whether cannabinoid products may be appropriate as part of a broader wellness plan.

You'll find those links on today's episode page at green B life forward slash. Just Say KNOW. Or you could go to the listen tab on our website. Just scroll to episode 27 and our show page will have plenty of resources. And if today's conversation reminded you of the incredible work being done by animal shelters and rescue organizations, I really want to encourage you to support them however you can.

Whether that's volunteering, becoming a foster, making a donation, or simply making sure your pet's tags and microchip information are up to date. You know, when we first started today's conversation, we kicked off with fireworks. But somewhere along the way, when I was writing the episode, I realized it wasn't really about fireworks. It was about understanding. Understanding what our animals experience is, understanding how they communicate, understanding that education replaces fear and observation often teaches us more than an assumption ever could Just Say KNOW.

Or as my husband likes to say, don't say N-O. Say yeah, maybe because. And then look, listen, learn, assess. Observation often yields more than assumptions ever could. That's really what green Bay life has always been about. Helping people replace uncertainty, especially around topics as misunderstood and represented as cannabis and pets. We want to help people replace the uncertainty around all topics with understanding, not telling you what to think, but giving you the information you need to make informed decisions for yourself, your family, the animals you love.

If today's conversation helps, even one dog feel a little safer, helps one family avoid the heartbreak of a lost pet, or simply gives one parent a little more confidence. The next time life becomes loud and unpredictable, then we've accomplished exactly what we set out to do. I'm Maria Callas. Thank you so much for spending time with me today.

Until next time, stay curious, stay informed, take care of one another, and always please Just Say KNOW. Or at least when. Maybe.

Did you know? THC and CBD are just two of more than 100 cannabinoids.

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Just say know is a greenbeelife presentation airing live weekly on Friday afternoons from 4 to 5 p.m. Pacific on KCAA radio and KCAA TV.

Just say know is a greenbeelife presentation airing live weekly on Friday afternoons from 4 to 5 p.m. Pacific on KCAA radio and KCAA TV. Archived audio episodes are on greenbeelife, greenbeelife.com, iHeart Radio, Spreaker and most third party major platforms. For archived videos, check them out on GBL TV on greenbeelife, YouTube and Rumble. To follow us! Our Instagram and Facebook is at Just Say Know Radio to apply to be a guest on the show or for sponsorship and advertising opportunities, go to greenbeelife.com/

just-say-know and feel free to reach out to me Maria for any questions. I’m at Maria@greenbeelife.com or call me at (818) 758-6925.

Worth it when you're holding me. When you hold me so good.