Top Tips for pets to be calm and safe this firework season

by Bryony Van Niekerk

Remember, remember the 5th of November. With the end of year fast approaching that means it is almost time for the dreaded fireworks to start- Guy Fawkes Day on 5 November and then Christmas and New Years. Thankfully, South Africa doesn’t seem to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day anymore- at least here in Gauteng anyway. To be honest I had to Google who he was and it’s very much an adopted holiday from the British. But I’m not here to give you a history lesson.

As much as I love Christmas and the festive season, I always dread the inevitable fireworks. I literally lie awake in bed every New Years Eve waiting for the loud bangs to start, thinking about all the terrified animals. The next day my social media is then flooded with posts about lost pets and dogs who injured themselves by jumping through plate glass windows or fences because they were so traumatised. Why people still insist on setting off fireworks blows my mind. Just wave a sparkler in the air and call it day. Ok so this might not be a history lesson, but I may need to step down from my soap box… If your pets suffer from stress and anxiety caused by loud noises, I have put together some tips that hopefully will help you survive the fireworks (and thunder storms, I have my fingers crossed for a massive downpour country wide on 31 December).

Tips:

Prevention

Desensitize your dog or cat to loud noises from an early age. Play recordings of firework noises, thunder, lawn mowers etc. very softly at first and gradually increase the volume over time, rewarding them for staying calm. Never go over your pet’s threshold though. If they start to show signs of stress (panting, pacing, trying to hide), reduce the volume and start the process again.

Desensitization is generally a lot easier when your pet is young and they haven’t entered their fear periods yet, but you can still implement this technique on older pets. It may just take a bit more patience and time.

Your pet can also develop a fear later on in life. My old boy, Linc, was never phased by thunder and lightning but in his twilight years it suddenly made him very anxious to the point of him shaking. So just because they seem fine now, it might not always be the case.

Medication

There are plenty of calming medications and sprays on the market all of which might or might not work for your pet. You may need to try a variety before you land on one that actually helps. Most of these calming remedies need to be given to your pet weeks ahead of the event in order to take affect and actually make a difference.

You can also make use of pheromone room diffusers. Dog-appeasing pheromones are synthetic pheromones that imitate the pheromone produced by a dog’s mother to help them to remain calm and feel safe as puppies.

If your pet is highly anxious and a natural remedy will not work, ask your vet for some prescription medication or sedative.

The art of distraction and comfort

False news alert: comforting your pet during times of stress and fear will not reinforce these fears. On the contrary, your pet will learn that you are a safe place for them. So, sit close to them, cuddle them, pet them all while talking in a soft soothing voice.

If you pet is interested, provide them with a long-lasting chew or a snuffle mat (chewing and sniffing helps to relive stress) or puzzle games to keep them occupied and their focus off of the fireworks.