Firework season is approaching! How to help your pets cope

I once visited a friend and was surprised to find their dog wedged into an impossibly small space beneath a dresser, facing the wall with just its tail sticking out. He risked an occasional nervous peep over his shoulder and looked extremely sorry for himself - somewhat like Eeyore! This was how Sam spent every fireworks night and thunderstorm so everyone just learned to leave him in peace.

Fear Of Fireworks

Eight out of ten pet owners have experienced at least one animal with a fear of fireworks (and thunderstorms!). Symptoms can range in severity, from shaking, panting, and hiding, to destructive or aggressive behaviours as a result of sheer panic. How you respond to their behaviour will significantly influence how fireworks night and storms progress. It is important to always remember that they are acting out of fear, so telling them off can add to the stress and anxiety already being faced by your pet. Instead, you can help your pet to realise that fireworks won't hurt them. In this post, we explain what can be done and what steps to follow.

What Can You Do?

The first thing to achieve is an environment that your pet sees as safe. What may not seem loud through the walls of our houses can still be very threatening for our pets, especially if the fireworks are close and vibrations can be felt as an additional, physical threat. Here we have arranged several tips that will help your pets on Fireworks night:

Close windows, curtains, and blinds to screen out any bright lights.
Make sure your pet bed is in a comfortable and quiet spot in the home. This also applies to cat beds.
If you are at home, try and keep your pets near you. It helps them to feel safe knowing you are there.
Cats may hide under a bed. Leave them there if they feel safe and secure.
Alternatively, cats feel safe very high up, so may start climbing up their cat tree or even bookshelves. Leave them there to feel safe.
Turn the television or music volume up to help drown out the loud noises.
Have treats ready. Food is always a great way to distract your pet from almost anything.
If your pet is afraid of loud noises, start desensitisation therapy as early as you can. Try downloading firework sound effects from Dogs Trust and play them very, very quietly. Reward your pet for staying calm, and over weeks or even months, gradually increase the volume so they get used to the sound.
Many pets are very sensitive to changes in routine and timing which can put them on edge. So as much as possible, keep everything the same. You don’t need any extra stress — and neither do they!
Of course, if your dog is afraid, your cat is scared, or your rabbit is terrified, it’s only natural to try and comfort them. However, you need to be careful. Excessive fuss and treats can reinforce the fearful behaviour — as they learn this is what they need to do to get your attention!
As a rule of thumb, make a moderate fuss of them if they come to you, but don’t go to them, or dramatically change the way you react. Remember, pets can pick up on our stress levels as well as vice versa, so it can spiral out of control!

Plan For The Season

Planning will make this fireworks season much more bearable for both you and your pets. Make sure you find out when local firework displays are happening and ensure your pets have been exercised and given plenty of toilet time before bringing them in for the evening.

Products To Help Calm Your Pets

We offer a wide range of products, including tablets, liquids, sprays, plug-ins, and collars to suit any pet. For pets that aren't a fan of pills, SettleMe™ Supplements offer a stress-free way to give your pet calming support. They come either as a tasty chew, an easy-to-sprinkle capsule, or a liquid (which is a big hit with felines, thanks to the inclusion of catnip!). They can also be paired up with other calming products, such as plug-in diffusers, for example, Feliway for cats and adaptil for dogs, which are very easy to use, and long-lasting. These products are not just for use during fireworks - they help pets to combat stress across a range of situations and I have personally seen their great effects on my pets.

Additional Blogs

This post is just a brief introduction to combating your pet's fear. If you want to read more about how to prepare your home and your pets for fireworks, we would recommend reading 'Keeping your pets (big or small) happy during fireworks!'. The article covers small animals and horses as well as dogs and cats so it is a must for all owners concerned about their pets during fireworks. We also have an additional blog post dedicated to recommended Pet Calming Products if you would like some extra information on how they work.