Noise, excitement of July 4th can frighten pets

Many of our furry friends despise the Fourth of July, not understanding that all the screaming, brilliant and booming explosions are all in fun. Some pets run away. Some chew the couch. Some urinate in the bedroom. And others shiver and hide in the closet.

"Those big booms are pretty loud, even to us," said Diane Anderson, an animal behaviorist with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Central Florida. "They are seeing the flashes of light, hearing the commotion, people outside yelling. ... It sounds like war or an attack to them."

Dog experts say it's hard to explain why some pooches shiver, hide and howl at loud noises while others sleep through them.

"It's difficult to predict," said Dr. Keith Tribble at Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital.

Dr. Doug Jones, a veterinarian at Animal Health Center in Orange County, Fla., agreed.

Some pets are "naturally more frightened, but it's out of a fearful situation they become afraid. To train that out of them, we need to try to reduce the fear," Jones said.

Distract them. Give them a toy to chew. Comfort them — but not too much. Talk to your vet.

Everyone may have a different reason for the fear.

"It's very individual," Anderson said. "Some of us like rock concerts, and some of us like libraries."

And some hate fireworks.

TIPS TO HELP YOUR PET SURVIVE

1. Don't take your pets to the fireworks show.

2. Keep your pets indoors at home in a sheltered, quiet area. Some animals can go nuts, tearing up stuff, so remember to remove items that could be destroyed or harmful if chewed.

3. Leave a television or radio playing at normal volume to keep your pooch company while you're attending Fourth of July festivities.

4. Exercise pets earlier in the day so they tire out.

5. Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.

6. Make sure pets are wearing identification tags. Animals found running at large should be taken to a shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.

SOURCES: Veterinarians, Humane Society of the United States