My Pet is terrified of Fireworks What do I do?
You are not alone - recent research suggests that almost half of dogs in the UK show some level of fearful response to loud noises. What to do straight away: Provide a den or hiding place - Animals naturally hide when they are scared and it can help to provide a 'safe place' which they can squeeze into, like an under stairs cupboard or an indoor kennel with blankets over the top and inside. An ideal place is somewhere near the centre of the house, or somewhere they are previously hidden. Muffle the sound of fireworks - Close curtains, shut outside doors and windows and have your pet as near to the centre of the house as possible. Put on the radio or TV to mask the bangs. Keep them inside - Don't let pets outside when fireworks are likely or during a display. Take dogs out for toilet purposes before it gets dark and then keep them in the house. A firework going off when outside can lead to a fear of going out. Don't fuss over them - This can be difficult but if they rely on you for comfort during scary events, they will be less able to cope when you are not at home and make matters worse in the long term. Stay calm yourself - Most pets can sense when their owners are worried, this increases their stress. Let them hide in the den and leave them there until the fireworks have finished and they come out. You can give your pets lots off fuss once they emerge. Don't get angry - Although your pets behaviour may be annoying it is happening because they are scared and getting cross will only make them worse. Don't try and get your pet out of their hiding place this increases the stress and can lead to aggression. Prepare for unusual behaviour - Fear can make your pet behave out of character. For example if they anticipate that going into the garden predicts a loud noise, they may hide or show aggression to avoid going outside. Talk to your vet - they can advise short-term measures which may include medications. This may help on the short term but it is advisable to discuss a long term preventative approach. What to do in the long term
Fears of fireworks don't get better on their own - in fact they are likely to get worse over time and lead to other behaviour problems. Behaviour therapy (including noise desensitisation) is generally very successful in changing the response to fireworks and other loud noises. Zylkene is a novel product proven to help manage stress in many common situations in dogs & cats. It can also help your pet adapt to change. Zylkene is natural, palatable and easy to give with food and only needs to be given once daily. Click here for further details | |
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