Dogs aren’t political. So the fact that many will panic and recoil in anxiety or fright during this weekend’s Fourth of July fireworks displays should not be taken as an affront to patriotism.

In all seriousness, while many aren’t bothered by loud explosions or pyrotechnic visuals, this is a serious problem for many dogs — and, as such, their owners. Reactions include trembling, pacing, drooling, attention-seeking and hiding. Also, since the pets don’t understand where the noises are coming from, they may try to bolt. Dogs indoors may be desperate to get outdoors — and can suffer serious injuries crashing through windows — while outdoor dogs can become desperate to get into the house.

There are numerous issues to consider when treating a pet who suffers from noise anxiety. For starters, make sure the pet has plenty of water, since thirst is often a symptom of nerves.

One simple and often efficient solution is to simply place the animal in a crate — possibly covered with a towel or blanket — and this action is sufficiently calming.

Perhaps the most immediate thought owners have is simply to give their pets a prescribed sedative — ranging from doggie Xanax and Valium to longer-term treatment with drugs like clomipramine or fluoxetine. The latter drugs increase levels of serotonin, but a several-week regimen is required for effectiveness.

“The thing with tranquilizers is that the pet still has the problem,” says veterinarian J. Todd Minor, former owner of Groton-Ledyard Animal Clinic who’s now semi-retired. “Pharmacologicals can have success but we try not to rely on that. Maybe your dog is curled up in the corner during the fireworks, but he still hears the fireworks. He just can’t get up and react because he’s sedated.”

Minor suggests being proactive and working with your pet. He says, “If you’re willing to take the time, there are ways to deal with this. You can try something as simple as, during ordinarily quiet, stress-free times, play something like ‘The 1812 Overture’ over and over, turning it up a bit each time so the animal gets used to the loud volume. That’s one option. But each pet is different. There are also a lot of natural and homeopathic solutions.”

Brian Quagliaroli, an instructor/assistant manager at My Dog’s Place whose 2-year-old St. Bernard, Atreyu, won Best in Breed earlier this year at the Westminster Dog Show, also prefers to avoid prescription medication.

“You have to find what works for your pet,” he says, “because they’re all different — just like people are. Maybe your dog can chill with a Kong or something yummy that keeps them occupied. Even something like television or white noise might work. It’s funny, some dogs might like classical music and some might like country. The point is, they’re unique and you have to find what works. But it’s probably best to stay away from the prescription drugs unless all other options have been exhausted.”

Quagliaroli and Minor both recommend a homeopathic option called Bach’s Rescue Remedy. Quagliaroli says, “It’s a liquid extract of flowers and natural products. Put some under their tongue or in the water and on some dogs — not all, but some — it acts on certain senses of the brain and does an amazing job of calming them down.”

Both also suggest a product introduced a few years ago called the ThunderShirt, a vest-type apparatus that, they say, has been remarkably effective as an anti-anxiety solution for many dogs.The Thundershirt is designed to apply a gentle, constant pressure on a dog’s or cat’s torso, which can relieve anxiety.

Quagliaroli also says it’s important, as a pet owner, to make sure your animal is a priority in holiday planning.

“For one thing, events like the Fourth of July are big people celebrations, and people like to show their dogs off. I get that,” he says. “But if you bring your dog to a parade or a fireworks show, you’re taking them out of their comfort zone, which is home. You and I know there are going to be fireworks, but they don’t. From their point of view, it’s literally like bombs going off out of nowhere and it scares the bejesus out of them.”

Quagliaroli also stresses that each animal is distinct and needs to be treated differently according to their needs.

He says, “Maybe you have a dog who’s a little nervous, but if you leave him or her in an area of the house where they’re comfortable and won’t destroy stuff or hurt themselves, they’ll be okay. But if you’re not certain of that, don’t leave them. Work or play with them so they’re focused on you rather than the noise. The biggest thing is to try to work through it.

“The truth is that this all sounds like a lot of ‘sometimes it works and sometimes it won’t,’ but each pet is different and that’s the reality. And figuring it out is the priority.”