{"id":279858,"date":"2026-06-27T14:12:08","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T14:12:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/279858\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T14:12:08","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T14:12:08","slug":"nyc-veterinarians-tips-to-keep-your-fireworks-sensitive-pets-safe-this-4th-of-july","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/279858\/","title":{"rendered":"NYC veterinarian’s tips to keep your fireworks-sensitive pets safe this 4th of July"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fireworks may be the star of Independence Day \u2014 but the dazzling explosions are a nightmare for hearing-sensitive pets.<\/p>\n

\u201cMany pets find the holiday terrifying or anxiety-inducing due to fireworks or other loud, celebratory sounds,\u201d Dr. Wasi Ashraf, Medical Director of VEG ER for Pets <\/a>in Williamsburg, told The Post. \u201cDogs and cats have elevated audible abilities. The unexpected booms and vibrations can cause a sudden increase in panic and confusion. The biggest danger is that they run away.\u201d<\/p>\n

More pets go missing on Fourth of July than any other day <\/a>of the year. <\/p>\n

The noise and lights from fireworks are too much for most pets to tolerate. Erik Pendzich\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n

Animals shelters nationwide estimate a whopping 30% of dogs and cats will bolt from fireworks\u2019 fear, and only 14% of these will make it back home<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not just the noise that puts pets at risk during the holiday \u2014 the food, the crowds and even what\u2019s on the ground can be just as dangerous.<\/p>\n

Dr. Ashraf\u2019s gave these suggestions to keep your precious pet safe.<\/p>\n

Keep your pet sequestered in a calm, secure space. Dr. Ashraf recommends closing all doors and windows tightly, turning on soothing music with shades drawn, and leave their favorite toys or treats nearby.<\/p>\n

Exercise your pet before festivities begin with a long walk or vigorous play session to tire them out.<\/p>\n

Talk to your vet. \u201cThey can prescribe medications such as gabapentin or trazodone to help calm nervous pets,\u201d said Dr. Ashraf. \u201cNever share your own anxiety medication.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you take your pet to a party, watch for discarded marijuana products on the ground. Signs your dog may have ingested pot include swaying, wobbling, vomiting or excessive drooling. Get the pet to the vet ASAP.<\/p>\n

Keep your pet away from the barbecue. \u201cWe had a dog that swallowed an entire metal skewer,\u201d said Dr. Ashraf.<\/p>\n

Cats will hide as a way of coping with the sudden crackling and booming sounds. Evelien \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

If you decide to take your pet to a Fourth of July party, watch them closely and don\u2019t allow them to go near the barbecue. master1305 \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n

If the party is at your home, keep your pet inside the house or in a gated area.<\/p>\n

Be on the alert for heat stroke. Warning signs include excessive panting, thick drool, bright red or pale gums and rapid heart rate. Take them directly to a vet ER.<\/p>\n

In the city, many gatherings take place on apartment house roofs. If you go to a rooftop party, leave your dog home. They can get upset and bolt, then plummet to the pavement below. \u201cThey\u2019re known as \u2018high rise\u2019 cases,\u201d Dr. Ashraf said. \u201cThey\u2019re often fatal.\u201d<\/p>\n

If your dog or cat goes missing in NYC, contact 311 or call 212-NEW-YORK for help.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Fireworks may be the star of Independence Day \u2014 but the dazzling explosions are a nightmare for hearing-sensitive…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":279859,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[6123,6530,7317,23665,8406,40550,105062,6210,35381,9,56,63,65,64,37176,58,46478],"class_list":["post-279858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-city","tag-cats","tag-dogs","tag-drugs","tag-falls","tag-fireworks","tag-fourth-of-july","tag-house-pets","tag-marijuana","tag-medical-care","tag-new-york","tag-ny","tag-nyc","tag-nyc-headlines","tag-nyc-news","tag-prescription-drugs","tag-us-news","tag-veterinarians"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279858","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=279858"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/279858\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/279859"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=279858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=279858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=279858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}