“Keep your pet at home. Don’t take them out to the park tonight to see fireworks. Don’t take them to the beach. It’s safer for them to be at home,” a local vet said.
HOUSTON — While fireworks may be a highlight of your Fourth of July celebration, they can be a source of intense fear and anxiety for your furry family members, veterinarians warn.
At Levy Park in Houston, families and their pets were out early Thursday enjoying the calm before the festivities. But pet owners are being urged to keep animals indoors later tonight as fireworks begin to light up the sky.
“This is Astro. We’re out here celebrating his birthday,” Lauren told KHOU 11. She said she planned to wrap up their outdoor time before festivities kicked off.
“Keep your pet at home. Don’t take them out to the park tonight to see fireworks. Don’t take them to the beach. It’s safer for them to be at home,” Dr. Ashley Woods, medical director at Sunset Animal Hospital, advised.
She said loud, unpredictable noises like fireworks can cause severe stress in animals, especially rescue pets or those with past trauma.
“Loud noises are really scary for most animals,” Woods said. “Especially if they have a history, like shelter animals, or were exposed to loud noises before.”
In some cases, a frightened pet may bolt from their yard or home, putting themselves—and others—at risk.
“The risk is they can run off, they can get hit by something,” Woods said. “Animals that are fearful can also bite.”
To help keep pets safe and calm, Woods recommends preparing a quiet, enclosed area indoors, like a bathroom or closet, where they can retreat during fireworks displays.
“Some animals feel more comfortable in smaller, dark spaces,” she explained. “It can really help them feel secure.”
She also noted that anxiety-reducing medications are available through veterinarians and can be helpful in more extreme cases.
Signs that your pet is in distress include:
- Ears pulled back
- Excessive panting
- Staying close to the ground or hiding