With Bonfire Night fast approaching, PDSA, the vet charity for pets in need, is advising owners to take three important steps to prevent anxiety in their pets during this year’s fireworks season. The charity’s dedicated Pet Hospital teams see an average of 1,400 pets every year for fireworks-related issues such as phobias or injuries.
PDSA Vet Nurse, Gemma Renwick, said: “For pets, whose senses are much better than ours, the experience of Bonfire Night is often far more intense and can cause severe anxiety, trauma, phobias and even lead to injuries.
“Pets often associate the sights, sounds, and smells of fireworks with danger, as they do not understand that fireworks are often a form of celebration. In the long term, you can help your pet learn not to be afraid of fireworks by training them to associate them with good things like treats, a process called desensitisation, but this can take a long time. Ideally, pets should be desensitised to fireworks several months before Bonfire Night to gradually accustom them to the loud bangs and flashing lights. Doing this as early as possible is the best way to prevent these fears from taking hold in the first place.
“However, there are things you can do on the night to support your pet when fireworks are going off. Make sure you note the dates or put reminders in your phone for big displays in your area, so you can be prepared to follow these three steps:
1. Change your nighttime routine
“Although we usually recommend not changing pets’ routines, plan to keep all pets inside at night during fireworks. For our doggy pals, ensure all walks are complete before dark. Encourage our feline friends to be back home for dinner well in time before the loud noises start- ensuring to lock any cat flaps and windows to prevent escape.
“For our small outdoor companions, bring them inside for the duration of the evening- but keep them somewhere cooler so that they aren’t too upset by the change in temperature. If you don’t have anywhere suitable indoors for them, cover their hutch with a blanket to muffle the sounds, but make sure they have some airflow, and give them lots of hiding places and bedding to burrow into.
2. Create a calm environment
“When Bonfire Night arrives, close your curtains and leave lights on before dark to help block out flashes and muffle the bangs. Playing classical music or something that includes a deep bass at a comfortable volume for your pets will help drown out loud noises.
“Consider also building a den to create a safe haven that your pet can retreat to – regardless of their size. Use plenty of cushions and keep it enclosed by draping blankets to help mask outdoor sounds. For cats and smaller pets, cardboard boxes or tubes work well, but make sure they have multiple exit routes, so they don’t feel trapped. Cats often feel safest up high, so a secure shelf or space on a wardrobe may be preferred. This den should serve as a safe space so make sure their favourite toys are included and never force them in or out of it, even if they’ve been inside for a long time.
“Likewise, don’t be disheartened if your pet chooses to hide somewhere else. Wherever they go, keep an eye on them but don’t disturb them – if they’re in their safe space, they will likely want to be left alone. If they come to you for reassurance, comfort them as you usually would, but try not to fuss them excessively.
3. Consider pheromones, supplements or remedies
“There are a variety of pheromones, calming supplements, or herbal remedies now available, which may offer some relief to your pet and help them relax. Supplements and remedies work in different ways depending on their ingredients – you may find some will be more effective than others. If one type doesn’t suit your pet, you may find a different brand works better next time.
“Pheromones are chemical messages that cats and dogs produce to communicate, some of which help them feel calm. Pheromone diffusers or sprays, replicate these ‘calm and happy’ pheromones so can really help them feel safe and settled. On the night, consider using a pheromone spray throughout the room and allow 15 minutes for it to settle before allowing your pet in. Diffusers are more suitable for earlier preparations, so consider purchasing one now to use ahead of the fireworks returning in the new year.
Pheromone sprays are sold online from as little as £5.
When to contact your vet
“If you have put steps in place to help keep your pet calm and they haven’t worked, consult your vet for emergency advice. If your pet has suddenly become fearful of fireworks, having had a few problems in the past, it’s worth getting a check-up as soon as you can to ensure there isn’t a medical reason for the behaviour change. If appropriate, your vet may be able to prescribe medications to help your pet in the short term. And in the long term, pets that have severe phobia may be helped by using the process of desensitation and counter-conditioning. Your vet can give advice on how to find a pet behaviourist in your area that can help you and your pet, using positive reinforcement methods.”
For more advice on keeping pets safe during fireworks season, and to download PDSA’s free Firework Guide, visit: www.pdsa.org.uk/fireworksready