How to Comfort Your Dog During Fireworks

dogs and fireworks — The loud bangs and whistles made by fireworks stress out, and often terrify, dogs and other animals. But you can help soothe them. yiulipa/Shutterstock

The Fourth of July can be miserable for dogs in the United States. Why? One word: fireworks. The loud celebrations can make scaredy-cats out of many canines.

That's because dogs, like humans, are hardwired to be afraid of sudden, loud noises. It is what keeps them safe. Some dogs, though, take that fear to the extreme with panting, howling, pacing, whining, hiding, trembling and even self-injury or escape. But, unlike humans, dogs don't know that the fanfare on the Fourth is not a threat. Dogs hear the fireworks and process it as if their world is under siege.

How a dog responds to noises may be influenced by breed. German shepherd dogs are more likely to pace, while border collies or Australian cattle dogs are more likely to show their fear by hiding.

While we veterinarians don't know exactly why some dogs are afraid of fireworks and others not, many dogs that react to one noise often react to others. Therefore, early intervention and treatment are essential in protecting the welfare of these terrified dogs.

Here's How You Can Protect Your Dog

Take your pet to the vet. If your dog is afraid of fireworks, the first step is to have your veterinarian evaluate him or her, especially if your dog's noise sensitivity is relatively new. One recent study found a link between pain and noise sensitivities in older dogs, indicating that muscle tension or sudden movements in response to a loud noise may aggravate a tender area on the body and thus create an association between the loud noise and pain, causing fear of that particular noise to develop or escalate.
Create a "safe haven" in your home with a secure door or gate, preferably away from outside windows or doors. Close the blinds or curtains to reduce outside noises, and play some classical music to help reduce stress by creating a relaxing environment for your dog during the show. A white noise machine or box fan may also help reduce anxiety, along with a pheromone like Adaptil sprayed on bedding, a bandanna, a collar or from a diffuser plugged into the wall.
Consider noise-canceling headphones such as Mutt Muffs to muffle the sounds and further reduce noise sensitivities.
Find a food your pet loves. This could be cut pieces of boiled chicken or squeeze cheese. Sit with your pet and feed him with each boom. You can also use a long-lasting food-dispensing or puzzle toy to release food continuously during the show. This is to help your dog make a positive association with the noises in the future.
Consider anxiety wraps, like the ThunderShirt, which are fabric wraps that exert gentle pressure on your dog's body. These may help to lower heart rate and other clinical signs of fear and anxiety, operating on the belief that they swaddle a scared animal and thus calm its fears. These work best, however, in conjunction with a complete behavior treatment plan including medication or behavior modification, or both.
When it comes to comforting your dog, the jury is still out. It is difficult, however, to reinforce an emotional response with comfort. Therefore, it is OK to pet your dog when frightened by a noise event so long as the dog appears to be comforted and not more distressed by the attention.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. You can find the original article here.

Christine Calder is a veterinarian with almost 20 years in private general practice in New Jersey and Maine, and an assistant clinical professor of behavior at the college of veterinary medicine at Mississippi State University.