By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As you look ahead to your Independence Day celebration, it's important to note that pets can be terrified by the sounds of fireworks.
"The big thundering boom that rattles the windows and shakes the house is perceived as a definite threat," said Jon Austin, DVM with Hutchinson Small Animal Hospital. "It's probably a wonderment from our pets as to what on earth is that, some of them respond poorly. They have anxiety."
Your pet's reactions may be different, depending on the fireworks used.
"Not only hiding or retreating to the basement, but trying to get away from the sound or hiding under a bed, that kind of response," Austin said. "I have experience with owners whose dogs panic and try to run. They try to escape and they'll use their claws and their teeth to chew through drywall and a door. In the past, I've had to suture the tendons and blood vessels on the back side of the front legs of a Great Dane who tried to get through the high window in a garage door to escape."
If you know your pet is susceptible to panic, talk with your vet ahead of time and get some medication.
"We dispense a lot of medication during this time, several medications that help with animals and calming," Austin said. "You can use something like an old-fashioned sedative tranquilizer like acepromazine. That's fairly popular."
There are other alternatives like CBD oil and essential oils that some pet owners use, but its best to talk to your veterinarian before the holiday to discuss a strategy.