Pets don't know it's the 4th of July and when the fireworks go off, many of them go into a panic. Local veterinarian, Dr. Mace Dekker says decreasing a pet's anxiety with medications is an option if you have an excitable pet.

“mostly what we’re starting to use is Xanax to relieve the anxiety. The other option you have is to keep them in doors, although that’s not a guarantee. I have seen animals jump through plate glass windows. I have seen a dog dig its way out from inside the house through the sheet rock and through the two by fours and out through the siding. There’s really a lot of fear that happens to them because of these loud noises that they don’t know what to do with

Dekker says staying with your pets when the fireworks go off and playing soft music  can help sooth them.  He says don't crate your animal unless they are comfortable in a crate.  The anxiety of being cooped up along with the stimuli form fireworks can create even more anxiety that may cause them to harm themselves.  And he says be sure you have identification on your animal so if they do run loose. They can be returned to the owner, and not wind up on KNCO's Pet Patrol.