Dogs and fireworks

The 4th of July is a wonderful time for summer picnics, family fun, and fireworks. Unfortunately, for your dog, fireworks can be a big, scary problem.

Your best friend has no way of connecting all that noise with America’s annual Independence Day celebration. Rockets, firecrackers, and noisy 4th of July crowds agitate and frighten him. When that happens, he’ll run away from them if he can.

You can’t stop the annual noise, but you can take steps to relieve your dog’s anxiety.

Avoid public gatherings

If you take your dog to a picnic or public event, you have no way to guarantee that you can keep him calm and safe. Keeping your dog at home is the only sure way to avoid flashing lights, loud booms, and noisy people.

As long as your community has no plans to host a public firework display, your dog can spend a safe evening running and playing in your fenced-in yard. If you’re not sure you can protect him from the noise, take your dog in the house.

Keep your dog inside

You can’t always predict if one of your neighbors will bring noisy fireworks close to home. Only sparklers and fountains are legal for non-professional use in Connecticut. Still, there’s also a chance that someone in your neighborhood will obtain illegal firecrackers and fireworks from another state.

For your dog, fireworks are the major problem but the legal sparklers and fountains can scare him too. The flashing lights may frighten your dog and the flying sparks may injure him. Keeping your dog indoors during the 4th of July holiday is the most prudent way to ensure his safety and peace of mind.

Try dog earmuffs

Dogs run away because their ears are sensitive to fireworks and other noises. Dog accessory manufacturers created dog earmuffs to eliminate the problem… if your dog will wear them. You may also purchase a less-expensive doggie hoodie. It fits over a dog’s ears like a close fitting turtle neck sweater and muffles noise.

If your dog gets scared and runs away

Even though you take proper precautions, fireworks, thunder and other loud noises can scare your dog enough to make him run away. For tips on how to handle a missing dog crisis, take a few moments to read our blog, “What should you do if your pet runs away.”

Contact Hebron Veterinary Hospital

For more information about noise and how it affects your dog, call us at (860) 228-4324. Or visit our contact page.