It’s summer in Central Oregon and we’re all excited to get outdoors in the warm weather. However, for some of our pets the summer thunderstorms and 4th of July can be stressful.  The loud noises from the thunder and fireworks can cause a lot of anxiety. This anxiety may manifest as hiding in the house, panting, pacing, vocalizing, and even being destructive or trying to escape. These anxieties can worsen or become more apparent as your pet gets older. 

What can be done to lessen your pet’s anxiety? 

Most anti-anxiety measures work best if they are started before your pet becomes anxious. If you wait until your pet is exhibiting signs of anxiety, then it is often harder to calm them down. It can be hard to know when a thunderstorm is coming or firework noise is going to start, so beginning anti-anxiety measures the day before or in the morning of a predicted thunderstorm will be most helpful for your pet. 

For some pets, more natural options are effective. These can include playing the music or TV a little louder, keeping the windows and doors closed, running a fan or other white noise device, using calming pheromones (Adaptil for dogs or Feliway for cats), or using a calming wrap like a Thunder Shirt. For pets that are afraid of loud noises, keeping them indoors when fireworks or thunderstorms occur is safest for them as they may try to escape the yard. 

For other pets, the natural options are not effective enough so they will need a prescription anti-anxiety medication. There are a variety of prescriptions and not all of them are effective for every pet. It is best to discuss your concerns with your veterinarian to decide what is appropriate for your pet. 

If you have concerns that your pet may have noise related anxiety, feel free to call us at Pawtown and we are happy to help!