Summer often means fireworks, at fairs and other events, and not just Independence Day. June is National PTSD Awareness Month, with Saturday, June 27, 2026, as the official PTSD Day.^1,2 What bearing does this have on animals, you ask? Animals can be negatively affected by stressful and even traumatic events. Animals and people with PTSD may demonstrate sensitivity to light, sound, weather events, and more.^3–6 It is crucial to recognize a patient with a fear that progresses to a phobia and demonstrates anxiety and stress associated with certain events. Equally important is educating clients to be on the lookout for typical signs of distress, and arming pet parents with the means to help lessen anxiety and minimize phobias. Further, certain recurrent events, such as thunderstorms and fireworks, most notoriously, can induce significant visceral and emotional responses in people and animals. Anticipating problems before the Fourth of July arrives can make thunderstorms and firework season more tolerable for all.

Fireworks and thunderstorms: real phobias warranting attention

PTSD can hit any person of any age. It can occur because of a single stressful or traumatic event or can arise due to repeated exposures or similar experiences. PTSD, however, is not limited to just humans. Animals may experience events that trigger PTSD-like responses to outside stimuli and events. Think about a veteran who fought on the frontlines and hears gunshots with the backfire of a car or the explosion of a firework. Something seemingly so benign and not a threat can set someone on edge, leading to a myriad of symptoms and consequent behaviors, including avoidance, isolation, and more.^4,7 Recognizing PTSD, a silent illness, understanding triggers, and recognizing that animals, too, can experience this helps us to understand why phobias, such as fireworks and storms, those associated with sound and lights, could trigger anxious behavior and stress in animals and people alike.

Fireworks and thunderstorms, while only examples, demonstrate this One Health concern. Not all people and animals with PTSD show anxiety and phobias associated with storms/fireworks. Genetics, socialization, and other factors play a role in the development of fearful behaviors; however, having a known trigger only increases the risk of development.