How To Help Your Pet During Fireworks

Many animals and pets find fireworks stressful. According to the RSPCA around 45 % of dogs in the UK show signs of fear when they hear them. There are many things we can do to help our pets during firework season though, and planning ahead is vital.

Providing your pet with a safe area can help them feel more secure, whether this be a room, area or hiding spot in the house that is quiet, you can place a bed and toys there to help them feel at ease. Using interactive toys or treat toys can help distract them to give them something to focus on. This works for both cats and dogs. Making this a happy space will encourage them to go there when they feel insecure such as when fireworks begin. Remember when your pet is in their safe area, try not to tempt them out as it may cause stress.

During fireworks, close all windows and curtains, you can also play some music or put the TV on to try and mask the firework sounds. Make sure your pet isn’t left alone during fireworks as they may look to you for comfort. Ensure that walking or outside time is done during the day time so that your pet won’t need to go outside during fireworks. The use of pheromone diffusers may help too.

With small animals such as rabbits, covering their cages with blankets can help muffle the sound of fireworks, but remember to leave them a spot in which they can keep a lookout if they need to. Providing them with plenty of bedding will ensure they can burrow if they need to. Burrowing will help them to feel more secure in their environment. Alternatively you can bring them inside, but be sure to do this a few days before for short periods so they can get used to the indoor environment.

Horses are another animal that can be scared of fireworks. As horses are flight animals, their natural instinct is to run when they feel they are in danger. In a panicked state, horses have been known to run through fencing in order to get away, which poses a huge risk of injury.

Make sure your yard and stables are safe – clean and tidy up any hazards, check for protruding nails or splintered wood.

If you are with your horse during fireworks, try to remain as calm as possible. As horses are very sensitive creatures, they will easily pick up on your nervousness which in turn will make them more anxious. It’s important to try and keep their routine as normal as possible too. Try playing music in the yard to muffle the sound, and arrange multiple checks during the evening.

To stable or not to stable?

“While you might assume your horse will be safer in their stable than out in a field, there’s no evidence either way. Some horses feel safer outside where they can see the fireworks with companions close by. Others prefer being in their stables.

A horse can still get scared in a stable and injure themselves. In a field, they can build up more speed when frightened, and potentially catch themselves on a fence or strain a muscle.

If you decide to turn your horse out, check your field is safe, secure and not close to where the display is happening. All it takes is one stray firework to prompt a horse to test boundaries.” – British Horse Society

If you are a horse owner, make sure you check if there are going to be fireworks in your area so you can plan ahead. If possible, the RSPCA recommends talking to the organisers of the firework display and let them know that horses are nearby, and ask if they can set their fireworks off in the opposite direction.

Horse owners can get advice from the BHS for top tips on keeping their horses safe during firework season.

Firework phobia is a treatable condition in animals and you can seek advice from your vet or an animal behavioural specialist for professional help.

Do you think it’s #BangOutOfOrder? The RSPCA wants to change the firework regulations to make them safer for animals. You can join their fireworks campaign by visiting www.rspca.org.uk.

Advice and information from this article was gathered from the RSPCA and BHS. More information can be found on their websites www.rspca.org.uk & www.bhs.org.uk

Fireworks Products

Cat & dog

Feliway CLASSIC Diffuser Starter Kit £26.95

Feliway CLASSIC Refil 48ml £22.94

• FELIWAY Classic Starter kit contains everything you need to start supporting you cat. Making sure your FELIWAY Classic diffuser is plugged in at all times, ensures that your cat is provided with the safe and secure messages that FELIWAY Classic provides at all times, ready for whatever life throws at them.
• FELIWAY Classic can help solve behavioural issues such as spraying, scratching, moving house, hiding, changes to their environment (e.g. new baby) and travelling.

Adaptil 30 Day Starter Kit £20.94

New Adaptil Refil 30 Days £22.50

• Ensuring your diffuser is plugged in and on at all times ensures that your dog is provided with the comforting messages that ADAPTIL Calm provides, ready for many life challenges.
• ADAPTIL Calm can help a dog cope with loud noises, general nerves (e.g. people or traffic) travelling, kennel stays, environmental changes (e.g. new baby) and being left home alone.

M&C Vet IQ Serene Um Calm (30) £6.48

M&C Vet IQ Serene Um Calm Xtra (60Tabs) £14.99

M&C Dog/Cat Serene-Um Drops 100ml £7.99

• Key uses - home alone, fireworks & thunderstorms, hyperactivity, travel anxiety. VetIQ Serene-UM® is a natural dietary supplement containing a specially formulated blend of essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals and has been recommended by veterinarians to combat tension and stress in pets, without having a sedative effect.
• Serene-UM® is the first step toward a more contented pet. It works by controlling the underlying emotional state to calm your pet, so that behaviour learned from a stressful situation can be corrected through retraining. In essence, Serene-UM® helps in the management of the cause of anxiety.

Homeopet Fireworks £10.99

• Promotes temporary relief from fear of fireworks, gunshots and other loud noises. Symptoms of anxious behaviour: Hiding, Barking, Pacing and Panting, Attention seeking, Drooling, Trembling, Trying to escape to safety Benefits of Homeopet Fireworks: Non-sedating, No known side effects, May be used for puppies, kittens and young animals, Fast acting 15-20 minutes, Great value up to 90 doses per bottle (depending on weight), Easy liquid dosing medicine, Patent pending, Safe, Gentle, Natural medicine for your best friend.

Premier performance K9 calming cookies 10pk £7.00

• A fantastic product to have on hand for stressful situations. Helping your dog to relax, focus and feel confident. K9 Calming Cookies ^TM Contain a blend of natural vitamins, minerals and amino acids to support general health and wellbeing to help your dog manage stress.
• K9 Calming Cookies are a perfect treat before bed time, car journeys, vet visits, firework nights or when your dog is left alone. May also help reduce motion sickness during travel.  L-Tyrosine is used to produce the neurotransmitter Serotonin. Serotonin is considered to be a natural mood stabilizer. It can help towards providing a more focused and confident dog.

Horse

Premier Performance Range

Premier Performance Calming Cookies Pk 10 £12.00

Premier Performance Calming Powder 15 Servings £15.00

• ALL products are Competition safe. They contain no prohibited substances do not have withdrawals. A completely Natural Product, Calming Cookies® are ideal for horses during excitable or stressful situations. Feed as and when required, they help your horse to stay calm, confident, and focused without affecting their ability to perform.
• The Active ingredient L-Tyrosine is a natural mood stabiliser, which can help towards a more focused, confident horse and less anxious horse. L- Arginine is the active ingredient used by the body to change into nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide is a powerful neurotransmitter. As Nitric Oxide levels becomes greater it can help to deliver the amino acids quicker. Contains no fillers, binders or any known prohibited substances as defined by the FEI. Calming Cookies contain molasses, so Calming Powder is recommended for any horses sensitive to sugar.

NAF Magic Range

NAF Magic 750g £25.20 and 1.5kg £45.15

NAF Magic Liquid 1L £33.60

Instant Magic 3x30ml £15.75

• Support their concentration fast with Instant Magic during stressful situations such as clipping, travelling, competition days or simply a visit from the farrier or dentist.
• Trust Magic to provide an instant calming effect with its fast acting herbal formulation and magnesium base.

Equine America So-Kalm Range

Super So Kalm Plus Paste 3x10ml £20.60

Equine America So-Kalm Liquid 1L £32.85

Equine America Super So-Kalm Powder 1kg £32.45

• Our Super So Kalm Powder helps to settle horses from everyday stress. This behavioural supplement provides three key micronutrients to help the horse to maintain a calm outlook while concentrating on work and performing at their best.
• While Magnesium soothes neuro-muscular excitability, Calcium strengthens nerve function, and Vitamin B1 maintains energy levels. All three act together to make your horse well-adjusted.

Horse First Relax Me Range

Horsefirst Relax Me 2kg £44.99

Horsefirst Relax Me Now 30ml £12.85

• Unique double action formula, which works on both the gut and the nervous system. Combines magnesium, vitamin E and B group vitamins to create a calmer more easy-going horse.
• Ideal for horses and ponies that spook, horses that display signs of anxiety, become over-excited or are being schooled or in training. Relax Me Now is developed to offer a boost to the normal RelaxMe feeding regime. Especially useful for travel and events. Strong, palatable and convenient.