Fireworks safety

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Animals do not like fireworks.
Dogs and cats, along with other animals, experience fear and confusion during the firework season. This fear may be expressed by:

If any of these signs persist or are excessive, consult your veterinary surgeon.

Steps you can take.
-Ensure that your pet has proper identification, like a tag with current information on it. Ideally, your pet should be micro-chipped so that easy and quick identification is possible. Unfortunately, some dogs and cats do run away from home during the firework season, even those that have previously shown no fear of fireworks.

-Try to ensure your pet has been to the toilet before the fireworks start. Some pets are too scared to go once the fireworks begin, which may lead to accidents later on.
If you have to be outside with your pet, keep them on a lead or in a carrier at all times.

-If you can, bring outdoor pets inside for the duration of the fireworks. If this is not possible, cover the hutch or kennel with a blanket. Outdoor animals are often quite used to thunder, but fireworks can cause a very different reaction.

-Feed your pet a good meal mid- to late afternoon, so he has a full stomach during the evening (don't try this if your pet is prone to diarrhoea when it is scared or at other times).

-If indoors, move your pet to a room with the curtains closed. Give him some toys and put some music on to provide distraction. Ignore the noises yourself and try to engage your pet in some kind of game.

-Do not punish your pet or overly reassure him. Ignore fearful behaviour that occurs for no reason. When your pet shows any signs of coping or behaving calmly give him gentle praise.

Some preventative measures for pets that suffer excessively.
A noise sensitive reaction can be due to various medical problems, so it is best to rule those out by visiting your veterinary surgeon.
Once this has been ruled out, we need to focus on behaviour. You could try getting your pet used to fireworks/storm noises using recordings. Ask us for advice.
Another option is D.A.P.(Dog Appeasing Pheromone). This is a plug in diffuser available from your vet, which mimics the natural appeasing pheromones released by a lactating bitch. By replicating this signal of well being, D.A.P. helps to alleviate fear and stress related signs.

If your pet suffers badly and the situation is short term, your vet may feel that a sedative of some kind is needed.