Summer is the season of vacations, holidays, and outdoor gatherings. In addition, noisy events, such as festive fireworks, raucous parties, and earthshaking thunderstorms, increase. If your pet runs for cover when they hear loud sounds, you may wonder how to calm them down and ease their distress. Some noises are unavoidable, including July Fourth fireworks and rainstorms. However, our Stanton Pet Hospital team provides effective strategies that you can implement to manage your furry pal’s noise aversion, ensuring they remain calm and happy.

Why do loud noises frighten my pet?

Noise aversion, also known as noise phobia, is an excessive fear of certain sounds. While reacting to sudden, unexpected loud noises is normal for dogs and cats, those with noise aversion exhibit heightened and persistent anxiety that can affect their overall well-being. Pets have sensitive ears, so they naturally react to sudden, loud sounds. Unfortunately, this fear can become a full-blown phobia. Common triggers that cause noise aversion include:

  • Thunderstorms — Thunder, lightning, and atmospheric changes can overwhelm pets.
  • Fireworks — The loud, unpredictable explosions often cause significant distress.
  • Household noises — Vacuum cleaners, blenders, TVs, and loud appliances can also trigger anxiety in pets.
  • Parties — Parties often include loud music and people shouting, which can be unsettling to pets.
  • Construction noises — Jackhammers and other industrial machines can impact your pet’s sensitive hearing, resulting in fear.
  • Sirens and alarms — These high-pitched sounds harm your pet’s ears and cause discomfort and distress.

Detecting noise aversion in pets

Identifying noise aversion early is crucial for effective intervention. Pets’ noise distress signs vary but often include:

  • Panting
  • Pacing
  • Trembling or shaking
  • Hiding
  • Attempts to escape
  • Destructive behavior such as digging and scratching
  • Vocalization, including excessive barking, whining, or howling

Helping your pet cope with noise

Loud noises are ubiquitous, but unfortunately, we cannot explain this to our four-legged friends. However, you can help minimize noises’ effects  on your pet’s health and well-being by doing the following:

  • Creating a safe space — Offer your pet a quiet, comfortable area in the home where they can retreat during noisy events. This could be a crate, a specific room, or a cozy corner with their favorite bed and toys.
  • Soundproofing your home — Reduce outside noises’ impact by closing windows, drawing curtains, and playing calming music or white noise to mask the scary sounds. Double-paned windows act as an additional noise buffer, so consider outfitting your home with windows that insulate against weather and noise.
  • Desensitizing — Gradually expose your pet to their noise trigger at a low volume while providing treats and positive reinforcement. Over time, increase the volume, helping them build a positive association with the sound. This counterconditioning technique can be used with anything that causes fear or anxiety in your pet.
  • Outfitting your pet in an anxiety wrap — These specially designed garments apply gentle pressure on your pet’s body, creating a calming effect, similar to swaddling a baby. An anxiety wrap can minimize your pet’s stress.
  • Using pheromones — Calming pheromone sprays and diffusers in your pet’s environment can help reduce anxiety.
  • Discussing medication with our team — In severe cases, our veterinarian may prescribe anti-anxiety medication to help manage your furry friend’s reactions to noise. Always administer these medications under our veterinarian’s guidance. 

Noise aversion in pets is manageable with the right approach. By understanding your pet’s triggers and implementing the techniques and tools we have recommended here, you can help your four-legged friend cope with loud noises and reduce their anxiety. If your pet has noise aversion, schedule a consultation with our Stanton Pet Hospital team.