As well as helping your pet on the night, pets that are very scared of fireworks and other loud noises can be treated for their fear using effective behavioural techniques. This takes time and patience, but excellent results canbe achieved.

Helping your pet long-term Leading veterinary charity, PDSA, funds and provides veterinary care to the sick and injured pets of people in need and promotes responsible pet ownership. The charity operates through a UK-wide network of 48 PetAid hospitals and over 350 PetAid practices (contracted private practices).

For more information on PDSA and its work and to find out how you can help support the charity by fundraising, volunteering or making a donation:

freephone 0800 917 2509visit www.pdsa.org.uk

The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals Whitechapel Way Priorslee, Telford Shropshire TF2 9PQ

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and your pet

• Tell your vet about your pet’s fear of loud noises. They will do a thorough examination to check there is not a medical reason (e.g. thyroid disease).

• Your vet may recommend behavioural therapy or suggest referral to a veterinary behaviourist or a pet behaviour counsellor.

• Behavioural therapy often uses a technique called ‘desensitisation and counter-conditioning’. Over time, this process teaches your pet that loud noises are nothing to be scared of.

• Sometimes medication prescribed by a vet is used to help with the behavioural therapy.

• Owners sometimes ask vets to prescribe tranquilliser tablets for their pet. Some drugs that were once popular are no longer used. This is because they do not reduce fear, just an animal’s ability to respond. This can make a pet’s firework phobia worse.

Many pets become anxious and frightened when fireworks are going off. Some become extremely distressed. Unlike us, they do not understand why there are loud bangs and flashes outside.

PreventionIf puppies and kittens are raised in an environment where they are not exposed to normal household sounds (e.g. in a quiet building outside), they are more likely to be scared of noises such as fireworks as adults.

During their first couple of months (the socialisation period) puppies and kittens should be able to hear a range of everyday sounds, e.g. washing machine, vacuum cleaner, television and other unexpected noises.

A good way of letting them hear a range of sounds is to use a socialisation CD (e.g. ‘Sounds Sociable’, www.soundtherapy4pets.com). Good socialisation CDs include the sound of fireworks, so that when real fireworks are heard your pet is more likely to be calm and unafraid.

Dogs – preparing for the firework seasonMany dogs will try to hide when they hear fireworks – in a corner or under a bed. This helps them to cope with their fear. You can help your dog by creating a comforting ‘den’ for them to hide in. This could be inside a wardrobe or cupboard, or behind a sofa. Pad it with old pillows and blankets to help soundproof it.

In the weeks leading up to firework season, let your dog have access to this den at all times and offer healthy treats and praise when your dog uses it, to build a positive association. A pheromone plug-in placed nearby can also help (available from pet shops and vet practices). Pheromones are calming scents that dogs can smell but we cannot.

If your dog still prefers a different hiding place, that is fine; they should not be forced out.

Small pets and wildlife

• Partly cover hutches and other outside cages with blankets so that they are more sound-proofed.

• Make sure your pets have hiding places and secure areas where they can go to feel safe.

• Give plenty of bedding – this will help keep noise out and provide a hiding place.

• Ensure the bonfire is nowhere near any pets.

• Hedgehogs may sleep in a bonfire. Build the fire as late as possible and disturb it around the bottom before lighting in order to give wildlife a chance to escape.

• Take your dog for a walk well before fireworks are likely to begin.

• Keep doors, windows and cat flaps closed.

• Draw the curtains.

• Play music with a repetitive beat to help mask the sounds.

• Although it’s tempting, do not comfort or reassure your pets – they will feel that you are anxious too and their fear will be rewarded and encouraged.

• Never punish your pets – it is not their fault that they are scared and it will add to their anxiety.

• Ensure your pets are microchipped so that if they escape from the house, scared and confused, there is more chance you will be reunited.

• Let cats hide where they like – do not try to tempt them out.

• If cats are scared, do not pick up or restrain them as cats prefer to control how they cope.

What to do on the night

Dogs• Trembling and shaking. • Clinging to owners. • Excessive barking.• Cowering and hiding behind furniture.• Trying to run away.• Soiling the house. • Pacing and panting. • Refusing to eat.

Cats• Cowering and hiding behind or on

top of furniture. • Trying to run away. • Soiling the house.• Refusing to eat.

Rabbits• Stamping hind feet.• Staying motionless.• Trying to escape.

Signs of stress in pets:

If you own a puppy or kitten, there are steps you can take to reduce the chance of your pet growing up scared of fireworks. If you own an adult pet that is already scared of fireworks, there are measures you can take to help them cope.

Helping your pet stay calm and safe