June 29, 2025
By Paige Adams, DVM
The Fourth of July is a time for celebration—cookouts, fireworks, and family fun. But for our four-legged friends, this holiday can be more frightening than festive. While we’re enjoying the sights and sounds, many dogs are overwhelmed by the loud noises, bright lights, and changes in routine.
As veterinary professionals (and animal lovers), we want to help make this Independence Day a safe and stress-free one for your dog and family.
Why Fireworks Scare Dogs
Dogs have incredibly sensitive hearing that is much more powerful than ours. So when fireworks go off, the booming sounds and unfamiliar smells can feel sudden, confusing, and terrifying to them. It’s not uncommon for dogs to pant, shake, hide, bark excessively, or even try to run away due to feelings of panic.
Tips to Help Your Dog Stay Calm
- Keep Them Indoors
Even if your dog is usually calm outside, fireworks are unpredictable and keeping them safely inside, preferably in a quiet, escape-proof room is the safest option. - Create a Comfort Zone
Choose a calm area where your dog feels safe and prefers to be. This may be their crate, in a closet, your bedroom, or elsewhere. White noise (like a fan or TV) can be helpful in reducing the impact of the sounds related to fireworks. Muffling the sound and blocking the flashing lights can also help reduce sensory overload. - Stay Calm Yourself
Dogs often take emotional cues from their humans. Speak softly, stay relaxed, and avoid making a big deal of the noises outside. - Try Calming Aids
We can discuss some over the counter and prescription options to help keep your dog calm. For most dogs with pretty severe anxiety we move to medications such as Trazodone and Gabapentin to help them stay as relaxed as possible. We often won’t see complete improvement, but if it helps even partially that’s a win!
Safety Beyond the Noise
- Update ID tags and microchip info before the holiday, just in case your dog escapes. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
- Secure gates, doors, and fences—frightened dogs can become escape artists.
- Keep human food and alcohol out of reach to avoid digestive upset or worse.
- Watch out for glow sticks, sparklers, and fireworks debris—they can be harmful if chewed or swallowed.
We’re Here to Help
If your dog struggles with anxiety, you’re not alone and there are things we can do to help. Dr. Adams can talk with you about medication options, desensitization strategies, or other tools to help your dog cope better, not just for the 4th of July, but all year round. Don’t hesitate to call or reach out today — we’re here to help!