Summer Noises
by: Deborah on June 10, 2006
We all know that June, July, and August are the months for summer fun. Barbeques. Picnics. Parties. Carnivals. Festivals. But, have you ever thought about how that summer fun effects your pet? Summer is also the season for fireworks and thunderstorms. Many pets may be uneffected by these summer noises, but for many pets these noises are very upsetting. People are often startled by loud noises or scared during storms. Since pets have even sharper senses than their human counterparts, it makes perfect sense that these noises can be painful to our pets' delicate ears, not to mention that the amplified sounds are probably scarier for them. Extreme noises can even damage your pet's hearing. Some pets in particular are more sensitive to even everyday sounds such as traffic, television, doorbells, and people coming and going from your home. Other pets are used to this chaos and remain unaffected.
So as a pet owner, what can you do if your pet is one that is affected by loud noises? During a thunderstorm or on the Fourth of July, be sure to monitor your pets behavior and reaction. Is your pet shaking, panting, pacing, or cowering in fear? If so, try to find a quiet place where your pet can go to feel more comfortable. When your pet is in a spot where they feel protected, you can keep their anxiety at a controllable level. Perhaps a place of comfort for some dogs may be in their bed, cage, or crate. For cats, their comfortable spot may be curled up in their favorite chair or in their favorite corner. Small dogs and cats have more places in which they can hide because of their size. Some dogs and cats, may try to crawl under the bed during fireworks or storms, as this may seem like a good hiding place to them. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to make sure that the hiding place that your pet chooses is safe. If you have a large dog that crawls under a bed, the dog may become stuck and could get hurt when trying to come out. If you have a cat that tries to hide behind the television where there are a bunch of wires, they could become tangled or trapped. Pet owners need to be aware of such situations and take preventative measures.
What else can you do? You can be aware of loud noises in which you control. For example, try not to slam doors or make other loud noises that may startle or scare your pet. Furthermore, think twice before you shoot off fireworks in your backyard, when your poor pet is inside, just a few feet away, scared out if its mind. Is it really worth it? During fireworks, storms, or other instances of loud noises that are not within your control, be sensitive to your pets needs, but try not to overdo the attention. You should keep your voice at a normal tone and volume, as pets are perseptive and can detect if you are at all panicked or apprehensive. You would not want to reinforce your pets' fear and give them further reason to be scared. So what if you have tried everything and your pet is still upset and bothered by loud noises? Perhaps at that point, it is time to call in your support team and make a trip to the veterinarian. Your vet can prescribe a variety of different medications or herbal relaxation remedies that will help your pet to remain calm, cool, and collected no matter what summer noises they may encounter.
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