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Preparing Pets for Summer Without the Stress

Summer brings longer days, vacations, outdoor adventures, and family fun, but for many pets, it can also bring unfamiliar routines, increased noise, travel, heat, and environmental changes that may contribute to fear, anxiety, and stress (FAS). By planning ahead and making thoughtful adjustments, pet owners can help their pets feel safe, comfortable, and confident all season long.

Whether your summer includes road trips, backyard gatherings, fireworks, or simply more activity around the home, preparation and predictability can make a significant difference for your pet.

Why Summer Can Be Stressful for Pets

Summer often changes a pet’s daily routine. Children may be home from school, visitors may come and go more frequently, and pets may experience new sights, sounds, smells, and handling situations.

Common summer stressors include:

Fireworks and thunderstorms
Vacation travel or boarding
Increased outdoor activity
Hot weather and uncomfortable temperatures
Loud gatherings or parties
Changes in feeding, walking, or sleeping schedules
Unfamiliar people or pets
Veterinary visits related to travel, grooming, or seasonal illness prevention

Even positive activities can become overwhelming when too many changes happen at once.

Watch for Signs of Fear, Anxiety, and Stress

Pets do not always show stress in obvious ways. Subtle body language changes are often the first indicators that a pet may be uncomfortable.

Dogs may show:

Lip licking or yawning when not tired
Panting unrelated to heat or exercise
Pacing or restlessness
Trembling
Hiding or avoiding interaction
Excessive barking
Refusing treats or food
Dilated pupils or a tense body posture

Cats may show:

Hiding more frequently
Reduced appetite
Increased vocalization
Overgrooming
Flattened ears or crouched posture
Avoiding litter boxes
Irritability or withdrawal

Recognizing early signs of stress allows pet owners to intervene before a pet becomes overwhelmed.

Keep Routines as Predictable as Possible

Predictability helps pets feel secure. During busy summer months, maintaining consistent routines can reduce uncertainty and support emotional wellbeing.

Try to keep the following as consistent as possible:

Feeding schedules
Walk and exercise times
Rest and sleep routines
Medication schedules
Quiet downtime each day

If schedule changes are unavoidable, gradual adjustments are often easier for pets than sudden changes.

Create Safe Retreat Spaces

Every pet benefits from having a quiet place to retreat when activity levels increase.

A safe space may include:

A crate or carrier left open and accessible
A quiet bedroom or covered area
Familiar bedding and favorite toys
White noise or calming music
Dim lighting and minimal foot traffic

Allow pets to choose when they enter or leave these spaces. Avoid forcing interaction when they are resting or seeking distance.

Prepare Gradually for Summer Activities

Travel and Car Rides

If your pet only rides in the car for veterinary visits, summer travel may feel especially stressful.

Help pets build positive associations by:

Taking short, low-pressure practice rides
Offering treats or enrichment during travel
Using secure carriers or restraints
Bringing familiar blankets or toys
Allowing breaks during longer trips

Visitors and Gatherings

Not all pets enjoy social events. Large gatherings can be noisy and unpredictable.

Consider:

Giving pets breaks away from guests
Avoiding forced interactions
Supervising children around pets
Providing enrichment in a quiet room
Using baby gates or barriers if needed

Grooming and Handling

Summer grooming, nail trims, and bathing may increase during warmer months.

To help pets feel more comfortable:

Pair handling with treats and praise
Work in short sessions
Allow choice and breaks
Practice cooperative care behaviors at home
Watch for signs that your pet needs a pause

Support Comfort During Heat and Outdoor Activity

Heat can contribute to discomfort and irritability, especially in brachycephalic pets, seniors, young animals, and pets with medical conditions.

Help pets stay comfortable by:

Walking during cooler parts of the day
Providing constant access to water
Offering shaded rest areas
Avoiding hot pavement
Limiting strenuous exercise during extreme temperatures
Using cooling mats or fans when appropriate

If your pet seems unusually lethargic, distressed, or overheated, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Help Pets Prepare for Fireworks and Storms

Fireworks season can be one of the most stressful times of year for pets. Preparation should begin before loud events occur whenever possible.

Strategies may include:

Creating a quiet indoor safe area
Closing blinds and windows
Playing calming background noise
Offering long-lasting enrichment activities
Ensuring pets wear updated identification tags and microchips
Speaking with your veterinarian early about additional support options if your pet has a history of severe fear or panic

Never punish fearful behavior. Fear responses are emotional, not disobedient.

Enrichment Can Reduce Stress

Mental enrichment helps pets feel more engaged and confident.

Summer enrichment ideas include:

Food puzzles and lick mats
Sniff walks for dogs
Window perches for cats
Scatter feeding
Frozen treats
Short positive training sessions
Rotating toys for novelty

Enrichment should be tailored to the individual pet’s preferences and comfort level.

When to Seek Additional Support

If your pet shows ongoing signs of fear, anxiety, or stress, or if behaviors worsen during summer activities, support from your veterinary team may help.

Your veterinarian can discuss:

Behavior modification strategies
Environmental management
Reduced stress handling techniques
Training recommendations
Referral to a veterinary behavior professional when appropriate

Early intervention can improve both emotional wellbeing and overall quality of life.

A More Comfortable Summer Starts with Preparation

Summer does not have to feel overwhelming for pets. With preparation, patience, and attention to emotional wellbeing, families can help pets navigate seasonal changes more comfortably and confidently.

Small adjustments, predictable routines, and compassionate handling can go a long way toward creating positive summer experiences for both pets and the people who care for them.

Addressing Noise Aversion in Dogs

Course Overview

It is estimated that a third of dogs suffer from some form of noise aversion. If you saw 12 dogs yesterday, four of them are likely to develop noise sensitivities in their lifetime. Not only can a fear of sounds be physiologically and emotionally damaging for dogs, but it can also strain the human-animal relationship. In this presentation, Kenneth Martin, DVM, DACVB, and Debbie Martin, CPDT-KA, KPA CTP, LVT, VTS (Behavior), will provide you with strategies for how to approach, prevent, and treat sound sensitivities, including teaching desired coping skills.

This course is approved for one hour of RACE CE and one hour of IAABC CE. In order to obtain the CE and certificate, you must enroll in and complete the course quiz with a score of 80% or better.

Brought to you by our friends at Zoetis

The Emotional Toll of Noise Aversion: New Insights

Thunder, fireworks, and many everyday sounds can be triggers for dogs with noise aversion. In this podcast, Margaret Gruen, DVM, MVPH, PhD, DACVB, Fear Free Certified, Assistant Professor of Behavioral Medicine at the North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine, shares tips on how veterinarians can help their clients and patients deal with this difficult problem.

Brought to you by Zoetis Petcare.

Fear Free Pets · The Emotional Toll of Noise Aversion: New Insights

Help Your Clients Keep their Pets Safe & Happy During the Holidays

The holiday season can be difficult for pets. Join Sharon L. Campbell, DVM, MS, DACVIM, Zoetis Petcare Medical Lead for Analgesia, Sedation, and Anesthesia; Joyce A. Login, DVM, Zoetis Petcare Medical Lead for Pain, Oncology, and Specialty Products; and host Steve Dale to get expert Fear Free tips on helping them enjoy the season along with their owners.

Fireworks Fears Can Change Over Time, Study Shows

Linda Lombardi
Fireworks and other loud noises are a common cause of fear and anxiety in dogs. A recent study provides some insight into the progression of this fear over time and provides evidence of the effectiveness of training and the importance of preventive training before fear develops.

“Not a one-way road—Severity, progression and prevention of firework fears in dogs” by Stefanie Riemer, published in PLoS ONE in September, analyzes the results of an online survey of dog owners who answered questions about the severity and development of fear, demographic factors, other behavior issues, and efforts made to address the problem. Out of 1,225 responses analyzed, 52 percent of dogs were affected by this fear to some extent. The severity of the fear was assigned a “Welfare-impaired score” based on the question “Please rate your level of agreement with the following statement: The overall welfare of my dog is strongly compromised by fireworks,” answered on a five-point scale from “disagree strongly” to “agree strongly.”

This fear often showed up early: in 45 percent of cases, at under one year. However, it also developed later, although in almost all cases before six years of age. Responses also showed that this fear can change considerably over time, both for the worse and the better, even if nothing is done to address it. Great improvement was reported for 10 percent of dogs and almost one-third of dogs tended to improve; just under one-fifth reported the fear had gotten worse, and 8.5 percent, much worse. One-third of dogs were reported to have shown no change.

Improvement was not always due to training or medication. For the subset of dogs whose owners had not sought advice for the problem and were not professionals such as trainers or veterinarians themselves, there was slightly less improvement, but also less deterioration – about half reported no change.

Owners of 530 dogs (43.3 percent) reported doing some training to prevent or treat firework fears. Preventive training was most effective: the median Welfare-Impaired score was 1 (lowest possible) in dogs trained in puppyhood and 2 in dogs trained as adults, compared to a median score of 4 for dogs with no training before the onset of fear. Statistical testing showed no significant difference between preventive training as a puppy and as an adult. However, there was a significant difference between having preventive training and having training only after fears had developed.

Training after fears developed was nevertheless shown to be worth doing, as those dogs were significantly more likely to show improvement. The effect of training was independent of whether the dog was treated with medication, as there was no difference in the proportion of dogs in groups that did and did not receive training.

The importance of some other factors investigated, including potential correlations with health problems and other behavior problems, were unclear, but one finding was that certain breed groups were more likely to suffer from this fear, including herding dogs. At the same time, one of the two most significant risk factors was being a mixed-breed. These results may seem contradictory, but they suggest that both genetics and upbringing are relevant. “Mixed-breed dogs originated from shelters or from the street more often so, on average, mixed-breed dogs probably had less positive socialization experiences,” says author Stefanie Riemer.

The other significant risk factor was older age. Again, at first glance this might seem to contradict the finding that fears develop at an earlier age, but fears are not static with aging. “While in over 70 percent, firework fear was noticeable before the age of two years, firework fear often does not disappear on its own, even though it may be improved, as I found in my study,” says Riemer. “Therefore, the longer the dog has been in the world, the more likely it is to have developed a fear of firework at some point in its life. Moreover, often the fear gets worse over time, which may lead to higher average fear scores in older dogs.”

The high number of owners who sought help for the problem (45 percent overall and 70 percent of owners of fearful dogs) was large compared with what has been found in other research. Riemer says, “I am sure the owners in the sample were above-average motivated to work with their dog. I don’t think this invalidates the finding regarding the effectiveness of training but of course a higher level of experience might make them more effective trainers.”

The results suggest that because preventive training is most effective, it’s a good idea to do some training with dogs who are not showing fear, but even after fear develops, it’s not too late. “This study shows that if your dog is afraid of fireworks or other loud noises, it’s important to do something about it, because it can make a difference,” says Zazie Todd, PhD, author of the blog Companion Animal Psychology. “There are several ways to help dogs who are afraid of fireworks, including gradual desensitization and counter-conditioning using a recording of the sound.”

Todd notes that Riemer’s recently published followup study on the effectiveness of various training methods found that owners reported that both ad-hoc counterconditioning and relaxation training helped.

She also observes that while some dogs’ response to noise is too obvious to miss, owners may need to be educated to notice it in others: “Other research has shown that sometimes people miss the signs their dog is afraid of fireworks, so it’s important to be aware and look for them.”

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Linda Lombardi writes about the animals that share our planet and our homes for magazines including The Bark, websites including National Geographic and Mongabay.com, and for the Associated Press. Her most recent book, co-authored with Deirdre Franklin, is The Pit Bull Life: A Dog Lover’s Companion.

A Fear Free Look at Canine Noise Aversion and Feline House Soiling

A Fear Free Look at Canine Noise Aversion and Feline House Soiling

Join Amy Learn, VMD, and Valarie V. Tynes, DVM, DACVB, DACAW, as they review two behavior problems that may be seen frequently this time of year: canine noise aversions and feline house soiling.

Canine Noise Aversions

Common canine noise aversions including storm and fireworks phobias, their presenting signs, possible contributing causes, diagnosis, and suggestions for management will all be covered.

Feline House Soiling

Both urine marking and inappropriate elimination and the diagnostic criteria for differentiating the two forms of feline house soiling, as well as their different causes, management, and treatment, will be included.

Brought to you by Ceva.

Even Mild Fear of Noise in Dogs Has Broad Effects

By Linda Lombardi

Mild cases of noise reactivity in dogs are often not considered problematic enough to treat. Research found that even mild noise sensitivity was associated with lower performance on a puzzle test. This suggests that these dogs have impaired functioning even when noise is not present and that more screening and treatment is called for.Researchers analyzed three types of data collected as part of a larger study of pet dogs. Dogs were evaluated for noise sensitivity via a questionnaire and a score was calculated based on the number of categories of noise that caused a reaction, the behaviors indicative of fear and anxiety that were exhibited, and the intensity of the reaction. Dogs were also tested for noise sensitivity using a custom noise recording that was played starting at a low volume and gradually turned up.

Learning Affected

Dogs were then evaluated for their performance on a puzzle-box test. The clear plastic puzzle box had nine holes on top and one at the end. A tennis ball was rolled into the box and dogs were given five minutes to try to get it out. If they succeeded in under two minutes, they repeated the test, up to three times in total. While attempting the puzzle, the dogs were wearing a device that recorded their movements.

Comparing data from 17 noise-reactive dogs and 11 non-noise-reactive dogs, those who were sensitive to noise performed worse on the puzzle box. Movement recordings also showed a difference, says lead author Karen Overall. “The ones who did the best moved very efficiently and very quickly. Their movements counted. The dogs who reacted to noise and who did more poorly, or could not solve the test, had very jagged and inconsistent movements.”

These dogs did not seem to be able to move in a deliberate, coordinated manner in response to how the ball acted when they tried to manipulate it. “They have to correct their behavior according to the movement of the object that they see,” she says. “These dogs couldn’t do that.”

Some of the noise-reactive dogs did not perform well enough to repeat the test, but when they did, they also differed. “Unlike the dogs who didn’t react to noise, the dogs who did react to noise couldn’t learn from their previous tests and didn’t improve their scores,” she says.

Sound Effects

While it’s understood that being in a state of anxiety interferes with functioning, the results show that being noise-sensitive has more wide-reaching effects. Even in a relatively low-stress situation where noise was not an issue, these dogs showed impaired performance: “The room is quiet, they’re getting food treats, their people are there, but they still can’t learn.”

Overall says it’s important to understand that this was not a clinical population of noise-fearful dogs. “Largely they were fairly mild, and yet they still couldn’t do this,” she says.

They also were not generally fearful, which was screened for. “The dog who was the worst in the test, the only dog for whom we had to turn off the recording, she was the meet-and-greet queen of the universe,” she says. “She was charming and social and lovely until you played noise, and then she was broken.”

“Moderate to severe noise sensitivity in dogs is a well-known behavior problem. A connection between separation anxiety and noise sensitivity has also been recognized before. What has not been appreciated until Dr. Overall and her colleagues published this research is the impact that noise sensitivity has on the general anxiety levels and learning ability of affected dogs,” says Bonnie Beaver, DVM, DACVB, of Texas A&M University. “These changes exist even in mildly affected dogs, impacting their daily lives with ever-present stress.”

Screening and Treatment

Overall concludes that even mild fear of noises needs to be aggressively screened for and treated.

“I think we don’t realize how much these dogs are suffering,” she says. “This shows that you’ve got dogs who are afraid of noises and it’s impairing other parts of their life that people haven’t looked at. It’s impairing their ability to get information from the environment and their ability to problem solve.” This has a broad impact on their social functioning and their fundamental ability to enjoy life.

Overall now believes dogs should be screened for noise reactivity on every vet visit and that it’s particularly critical to screen young dogs. “I want vets to see dogs three or four times a year in the first two years of life, when their brains are developing, and subject them to standard screening tests,” she says.

This is important because early diagnosis and treatment can make a huge difference. “The rodent literature has shown that if you’re anxious and fearful and from a genetically fearful line, and they treat you as a baby, your brain develops normally,” she says. “And what wouldn’t we give for that? There’s too much suffering; I want these dogs to have joy.”

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

Linda Lombardi writes about the animals that share our planet and our homes for magazines including The Bark, websites including National Geographic and Mongabay.com, and for the Associated Press. She co-authored The Pit Bull Life: A Dog Lover’s Companion with Deirdre Franklin.

Crash, Boom, Bang! Addressing Noise Aversion in Dogs

Crash, Boom, Bang! Addressing Noise Aversion in Dogs

It is estimated that a third of dogs suffer from some form of noise aversion. If you saw 12 dogs yesterday, four of them are likely to develop noise sensitivities in their lifetime. Not only can a fear of sounds be physiologically and emotionally damaging for dogs, but it can also strain the human-animal relationship. This session will provide you with strategies for how to approach, prevent, and treat sound sensitivities, including teaching desired coping skills. Sponsored by Zoetis.

Do You Hear What I Hear? Noise Aversion Beyond Thunder and Fireworks

Do You Hear What I Hear? Noise Aversion Beyond Thunder and Fireworks

Noise aversion isn’t only about thunder and fireworks. Many of your patients are suffering daily from noise aversion to everyday environmental events.

What can the veterinary professional do? In this webinar, sponsored by Zoetis, board certified veterinary behaviorist and Fear Free Executive Council member Dr. Lisa Radosta discusses a variety of treatments that can help patients with noise aversion live happier lives.

Thunder Fears? Help Owners Recognize, Treat Them Early

By Kim Campbell ThorntonPet owners, and people in general, tend to ignore problems until they become too troublesome to ignore. It’s human nature to put off dealing with things if we’re not sure how to proceed or think it will be too much work. If you live in an area that’s prone to thunderstorms, though, you can help clients stave off pet fears and phobias before they become serious.

“Veterinarians should routinely ask clients about their pets’ responses to storms,” says Pamela Perry, DVM, a behavior resident at Cornell University College of Medicine in Ithaca, New York.

Ask clients what happens during a thunderstorm. Does the cat hide? The dog tremble? Those mild fears can worsen over several thunderstorm seasons. Waiting to treat them can make the problem that much more difficult to manage. Be preemptive and recommend treatment promptly, while signs are still at the subtle stage.

“They might be coming in for something totally unrelated to storm phobia, but they mention that the dog is fearful during storms or that their other dog at home has storm phobia,” says veterinary behaviorist Lore Haug, who practices in Sugar Land, Texas. “I’m like, ‘You need to get on top of that right away.’”

Suggestions can be as simple as suggesting setting up a safe room or getting the pet a snug-fitting wearable that may have a calming effect.

Know how to advise clients on setting up a safe room. It can be a small guest bath or closet with no windows, a basement, or something as simple as a crate with a cover thrown over it. Their pet may choose his own safe space, such as inside the bathtub. Wherever it is, it should be ready and available at any time.

Clients should encourage pets to go there by placing a stuffed Kong or treat-filled puzzle toy in the room daily so the animal knows that good things happen in that room. Remind clients never to close the pet in the room or crate, which can create a feeling of being trapped. If owners know a storm is expected during a time they won’t be home, they should prepare the room by putting a long-lasting treat or favorite toy in it, turning on a white noise machine or other noise blocker, and plugging in a pheromone diffuser.

Be familiar with product options for pets fearful of storms. Calming clothing includes Thundershirts, Storm Defender Capes, Anxiety Wraps, Mutt Muffs, and Calming Caps. Depending on the product, they fit snugly on the body, providing soothing pressure; reduce storm-related static charges; or limit the pet’s exposure to scary storm-related sights and sounds such as lightning and thunder. Recommend drowning out storm sounds with white noise machines, the whirr of a box fan, or relaxing music such as Through A Dog’s Ear or Through A Cat’s Ear. Certain nutraceuticals and pet foods contain soothing ingredients such as l-theanine, caseins, L-tryptophan, and B vitamins and are marketed for pets with storm-related fears.

“Resources like that are easy for owners to implement and don’t require a huge behavior modification program,” Dr. Haug says.

Finally, be familiar with the client’s lifestyle and environment. If medication is needed, that information will help you determine the best choice for that particular animal.

“Make a choice about the effect you want to have happen, what medication fits with that, and how it can work in the owner’s lifestyle,” says veterinary behaviorist Lisa Radosta, who practices in West Palm Beach, Florida.

For instance, some owners are in and out but have a flexible schedule that allows them to premedicate a pet if a storm is in the forecast. For that owner, Radosta says, “I’m going to send her home with Sileo because that works fast and she’s generally going to be home to administer it.” For owners who are gone all day, she might suggest long-lasting clonazepam or gabapentin.

“Make a choice,” she says. “Don’t just throw a drug at it because you like it.”

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.

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