Now that Bonfire Night (or Guy Fawkes) is just around the corner, it’s time to think about not just the safety of the family, but your pets too. A lot of pets – cats and dogs in particular – react very badly to fireworks. That’s why, with the help of Dogs Trust and the Cats Protection, we’ve put together a list of tips that will help ensure your pet has a comfortable Bonfire Night this year…
Before the fireworks begin:
- If your pet has had problems with fireworks in the past, make sure to visit the vet well before November 5th so you have time to trial any prescribed medication. You can also ask about DAP (Dog Appeasing Pheromone), a scent that can comfort your dog and help him or her cope with their fears. Pheromone plug-in diffusers such as Feliway® which can also have a beneficial effect in calming cats.
- Make sure your pets have their outdoor time before it gets dark. Take your dog on a long walk to keep him happy for the duration of the evening.
- Try to settle your pet before the fireworks start – if your pet is in familiar, safe surroundings it will help him cope with the noise.
- Provide a safe hiding place – at noisy times around Bonfire Night, make sure your pet has somewhere safe to hide in his or her favourite room, perhaps under a table if you have a dog, or on an elevated surface if you have a cat. Close the curtains and turn up the volume on your TV or radio to drown out the firework noises.
- If your pet responds well to certain music, make a compilation and play it at a reasonable level to drown out the sound of the fireworks. Alternatively, put your radio on.
During the fireworks:
- Don’t punish a cat or dog for reacting to the fireworks as this will enhance their fear. You should aim to remain relaxed as this will help your pet relax, too.
- Don’t leave your pet alone in the house during the fireworks – he or she may panic and this could result in injury.
- Provide a litter tray for cats
After the fireworks:
- If your pet does react badly to fireworks seek a referral from your vet to a qualified behaviourist regarding desensitisation programmes to help them cope better next time. These programmes usually take several weeks or more to complete so must be carefully planned.
- It’s important that in the long term your pet becomes less scared of loud noises. You can prevent noise phobia developing by making sure that puppies and kittens are desensitised to usual noise. You can do this by playing socialisation CDs to puppies and kittens while they feel safe and secure to ensure that they get used to loud noise.
This information was provided by Dogs Trust and Cats Protection.
Have a great, safe, pet-friendly 5th of November!
