July Fourth is upon us, and all across America, dogs will be taking cover under beds, in basements, and even in bathtubs in an attempt to insulate themselves from the aural onslaught of fireworks displays. Concerned about your puppy? I’ve got tips to help calm your canine!

An aversion to loud noises—especially fireworks and thunderstorms—is a common canine phobia. This phobia can cause physical as well as emotional distress. In the throes of a noise phobia, a dog may ram through a door, throw himself out a window, or claw or bite the owner who is trying to comfort him.

How to Calm Your Canine

First, do not reinforce the phobia.
Do not direct extra attention to your dog by petting him and telling him everything is OK. He knows that fireworks are not OK, and your attempts to distract him will only make him more uneasy. Instead, move him to a safe, comfortable place, such as a quiet bedroom or his crate, and treat him as if everything is completely normal. In other words, ignore the fireworks or thunderstorm, and show him by your example that noise is no big deal.

Second, use appropriate medication to decrease his anxiety level.
Traditionally veterinarians have prescribed alprazolam (Xanax) for noise phobias. In worst-case scenarios, the tranquilizer acepromazine can be used to knock a dog out for six or eight hours, until the fireworks or thunderstorms have passed. Sileo is a newly approved medication designed to relieve canine noise aversion without causing sedation. If your dog hasn’t responded to other treatments for noise phobias, it may be worth a try.

For more tips to keep your pet healthy, happy, and active, check out The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook.