Fireworks

With bonfire night and New Year's Eve coming up it is worth making sure you are prepared for the firework season which can be a source of fear for many animals.

Here are some tips to make fireworks less frightening for your pet:

Dogs

• Walk dogs during the daytime to avoid times when fireworks are likely to be set off
• Keep your dog securely inside at night with windows and curtains closed and some music or the TV on to muffle the noise of fireworks outside
• Try to ignore your pet when they are showing signs of fear (i.e. don't punish or fuss them) as this is likely to reinforce the behaviour and make things worse in the long run
• Make sure your dog is microchipped so if they do happen to be outside when a firework goes off and they run away they can be brought back to you more easily.
• Talk to your vet if the problem is very bad as they may be able to prescribe medication, refer you to an animal behaviourist or suggest a pheromone diffuser, which disperse calming chemicals into a room.
• Have a play area in one of the quieter rooms of the house where you play with your dog, so they associate it with happy experiences and they can then go there when they are scared to distract them.

Cats

• Shut your cat in at night, so they are only outside during the day
• Keep windows and curtains closed and some music or Tv on to muffle the noise of fireworks outside
• Try to ignore your pet when they are showing signs of fear (i.e. don't punish or fuss them) as this is likely to reinforce the behaviour and make things worse in the long run
• Make sure your cat is microchipped so if they do happen to be outside when a firework goes off and they run away they can be brought back to you more easily.
• Have a place in your garden (e.g. a box or maybe a small dog kennel) and in your house (e.g. in or on top of a cupboard, under the stairs) that your cat can hide in if it needs to. Don't try and tempt your cat out of their hideaway as this may stress them out even more.

Small Animals

• If your pet lives outside cover most of their cage, hutch or run with blankets or towels, so that one area of their living space is better sound proofed and blocks out the flashing lights. Make sure your pet can still see out though, so they don't feel too closed in and also so they have adequate ventilation.
• Make sure they have lots of bedding to hide in.