Vets give tips to protect pets during fireworks

While many people enjoy the sights and sounds created by fireworks around the Fourth of July, their pets are a different story.

The loud booms and other noises given off by the fireworks can spook pets, especially dogs.

“A lot of dogs are affected by fireworks,” said Dr. Jim Grassmeyer of The Pet Hospital in Fremont. “Like it or not, they have anxieties and phobias to loud noises.”

Many people will purchase tranquilizers to try to calm their dogs’ nerves, but Grassmeyer said there are other natural medicines that could be safer alternatives.

“It really is an individualized response,” Grassmeyer said.

Dr. Tyson Dinslage of Elkhorn Valley Veterinarian Clinic in West Point said the best option often is to put a spooked dog in a basement or other room with a radio or television turned on to help minimize the noise caused by fireworks.

For people that like to keep their dogs outside, Dinslage said it’s important to make sure that they are properly fenced in and restrained.

“A sudden boom and they can take off running,” Dinslage said. “Some dogs can be quite elusive, especially when they’re scared.”

Not every dog reacts the same way, though. Dinslage said that hunting dogs, for example, generally aren’t bothered by the loud noises.

“It all depends on the dog and how they’re raised,” he said. “If they’re used to things like that, the Fourth of July is just another day for them. If they’re not, the Fourth of July can be scary for them.”

Dogs aren’t the only pets that the fireworks can bother.

Grassmeyer said cats often will find a place to hide when they are bothered by loud noises.

“It isn’t as visible with them sometimes as it is with a dog,” Grassmeyer said.

Dinslage recommended that anyone who has questions about the best way to handle their pet during the holiday season visit with their veterinarian.

“Everybody’s got a different situation,” he said.