You might be ready to celebrate the 4th of July, but your pets may not be… Here are a few things you can do to minimize the stress on your pets firecrackers can create:

1. Reduce exposure to fireworks. Keep firecrackers away from their face, do not let children torture them with sparkles or loud items. This just agitates animals and provokes them to react adversely. This may seem obvious, but every year I am surprised to see so many pets being chased with a firecracker. Do not take your pet to the fireworks show and keep them as far removed from the fireworks displays in your neighborhood. You may not think of your dog as an anxious, easily frightened dog, but the loud noises and bright display can really catch pets off guard. The more protected they are from this type of exposure, the safer they will feel.

2. Do not coddle your pet. It is in our nature to try to soothe our pets when they are nervous, anxious and fearful. This is one of the worst things we can do because it encourages the behavior they are showing. The best thing to do is ignore their anxiety. Acknowledging the behavior reinforces and justifies their reason to be so nervous. Do not pet your dog, hold them or do anything to encourage this type of reaction.

3. Act normally, do not react violently to the fireworks yourselves. In the same way that dogs are looking to their pack for reinforcement and support, they also look to you for your response. If you jump, scream or act hysterically to the noise of fireworks, they are likely to take your lead and react similarly. Dogs often feel the need to protect us and if they feel you are threatened and scared, they will be more alert and respond.

4. Find a safe spot for your dog. If your dog feels more comfortable under the bed or in his crate, consider this spot for your dog during the extreme noise and fireworks display. Some dogs are more anxious being confined, but if the pets are used to being crated, often they feel safer in their box. Sometimes having their favorite stuffed toy or blanket can calm them down. Others feel safer being around other pets during this time, but we must be careful that other pets are not causing more anxiety with their reaction to the fireworks.

5. Still anxious? Try some background noise or music to help drown out the noise of the fireworks. Lots of people uses background noise, such as a TV or radio as “white noise” to help minimize noise heard outside. Using classical music or other soothing music can also help relax an animal. Studies show animals in these types of environments have a lower heart rate and blood pressure, indicating that they are less stressed than other dogs. Lots of owners try using calming scents such as lavender and dog appeasing pheromone (DAP). You can pick up some of these calming agents and aromatherapy at your local pet store.

6. You’ve done all of these things and your dog still goes berserk when it hears those fireworks? Well, then, you need to talk to your veterinarian about some anti-anxiety medications that may help take off that edge. Acepromazine and Clomicalm are commonly used sedatives for dogs and cats with anxiety, but they are not safe for every patient. Talk to your veterinarian and find out if these medications are right for your dog.