Fireworks

Remember, many pets dislike fireworks and find them frightening.  Every year thousands of animals will suffer as a result of the festivities.  Animals also have very acute and sensitive hearing, and very loud bangs and whistles cause them actual pain in their ears.

If you have a pet who is afraid of fireworks, your vet or a pet behaviourist can offer advice regarding a desensitisation programme which will gradually decrease the pet's fear over time and make them more settled during the prolonged periods of firework noise.  Many pets are successfully helped by using desensitisation CDs. These simulate the random and unpredictable nature of the firework noise - start the desensitisation programme several weeks prior to the start of fireworks season, gradually building up the volume and playing time.

Following these helpful tips will help to make sure your pet remains relaxed and happy during firework 'season'.

1. On the evenings you expect fireworks, ensure your pet is safe indoors and secure doors, windows and cat flaps.
   
2. Make sure your dog or cat is microchipped and wearing a collar and identification tag. If they do escape, frightened confused animals can easily get lost or injured and it is important that they are easily identified.
   
3. Keep all pets inside the house once the sun starts to set but remember some people set off fireworks before nightfall.  Ensure dogs are taken out to toilet early in the evening and cats are provided with a litter tray.
   
4. Draw curtains to reduce outside noise and protect your pet from any light flashes and play music or have the TV turned on to help mask the noise of fireworks.
   
5. Ignore any fearful behaviour. Do not try to comfort your pet. The animal will pick up on your anxiety and this may make the problem worse and/or fussing a pet who appears frightened can reward this negative behaviour.
   
6. Do not shout or get angry at your pet either as this will only make your pet more stressed.
   
7. If your pet hides in a corner or under a bed, leave it alone and do not try to coax it out. Your pet is just trying to make itself safer and should not be disturbed.
   
8. Try not to go out during such potentially upsetting events. Seeing you acting normally will help your pets feel more settled.
   
9. Never take your dog to a firework display. Even if your dog does not bark or whimper at fireworks, it does not mean he is happy. Behaviour such as panting and yawning can indicate that your dog is stressed.
   
10. Speak to your vet about using the synthetic pheromones DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone) to help naturally comfort your dog.  DAP is available in various forms, including a plug-in diffuser, a collar or a spray.  The DAP diffuser should be plugged in as close as possible to the dog's bed and switched on 24 hours a day for at least a week before the start of fireworks season and throughout the entire fireworks season.  Similarly, a plug-in Feliway pheromone diffuser will help reassure your cat during the fireworks season, as it helps creates a state of well being and calm.  Speak to your vet for further advice.
    
11. If you are still worried or if the pet takes a long time to recover from the experience contact your vet for further assistance or for referral for behavioral therapy.

Small pets

Please remember that small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and birds can be easily frightened and also need to be treated with special care during fireworks season.

If possible, hutches/cages and enclosures should be brought into a quiet room indoors, or into a shed or garage.  Extra bedding/straw can be added to the hutch or cage for your pet to burrow into so it can feel safer.  If you cannot bring your pet's hutch inside, try turning it around so it faces a fence or wall, rather than an open garden, and cover it with a blanket to block out the sight of the fireworks and deaden the sound of the bangs (make sure there is enough ventilation).  Similarly, cages and aviaries can be covered with a blanket.