WITH Chinese New Year just around the corner, alongside the family festivities and merriment there will be fireworks. To most this is a much loved tradition and celebration however to animals and our pets it is something quite different.
Many animals and pets will find the fireworks very frightening and distressing and each of our pet will respond differently to the loud banging, screatching and the flashing of lights and explosions.
Noise phobias is a real issue and it affects many animals. Dogs hear nearly twice as many frequencies as humans, and they can also hear sounds four times further away than us. Most dogs can hear sounds anywhere between 80 feet to 1 mile away, that means dogs can hear sounds that are not loud enough for our ears.
As a result of this our animals may show fear and stress related signs like these..
Dogs may bark excessively, restlessly pace and pant, cower and hide behind furniture, dig up at their bedding and floors/carpets, try to escape and run away and or go to the toilet inside the house.
Cats may try to escape and run away, hide behind furniture, excessively meow, excessively scratch at furniture, over groom and or go to the toilet in the home.
To help eliminate our animals anxieties and secure their safety here are some tips we can all implement when looking after our pets on the nights of the fireworks.
Be Prepared
Check where and when fireworks displays are being held in your local area. Also ask your neighbours to let you know if they are planning anything. And then keep your pets indoors, remember to close gates, doors and windows.
If your cat is used to going out, provide a litter tray.
Tying up your dogs on a leash in the garden can be futile and even dangerous as your dog becomes stressed and panicked he is capable of breaking the links of the leash, escaping and running away in sheer panic. Either that or getting entangled in the leash, getting even more panicked and ultimately hurting themselves. Likewise when a dog is caging he can become overwhelmed with stress, panic and try to get out of the cage and hurt themselves.
Dogs are capable of immense feats of strength when they are faced with fear, stress and panic. It’s fight or flight ... and escaping, breaking kennel doors, jumping over fencing, digging their way under fences and pulling apart leashes are commonplace.
Every animal reacts differently and even if they have never reacted to the fireworks in the past, this year they potentially could - so the best solution is to keep our pets inside our house with their family where they can me supervised and cared for.
Be Secure
Escape-proof your house. Keep doors and windows closed and block off any dangerous or unsuitable areas your cats and dogs may get into.
Be there, do not leave your pets alone if fireworks are expected. If you want to go out, get a friend who knows your dog well to come and sit with him, so he is not left alone to try to cope by himself.
Make A ‘Safe’ Place
Make sure your dog always has somewhere to hide if he wants to and has access to this place at all times. Place a comfy bed in the centre of the house, away from windows, doors and walls and make it comfortable with bedding and cushions for him to burrow in.
Close the curtains to stop your dog being startled by flashing lights. Keep lights on in some rooms and others in darkness so your pet can choose where they feel safest.
It’s Ok To Support Your Dog
Contrary to what you will hear, if your dog is frightened it is OK to provide him with support and comfort. Allow your pet to settle where he feels safe. Don’t
push him away: ignoring your dog may only make things worse.
Stay Calm and ignore the fireworks noise yourself. Anxious owners can increase stress levels in their dog. Be as relaxed and normal as possible and your pets will mirror your mood. Reward calm behaviour with treats and playing, distract your dog from the commotion outside by doing fun things indoors such as playing, trick training or cuddles, offering tasty treats, toys and verbal praise as rewards. Wherever your dog does choose to settle, providing him with a long-lasting chew or toy can be a great distraction.
Playing music or having the TV on can also serve as a distraction and help.
Be Forgiving
If your dog is destructive or goes to the toilet in the house it is likely to be due to the stress caused by the fireworks. Getting angry will only aggravate the situation.
Walk Before Dusk
Take your dog for a long walk while it’s still light so that he is relaxed and will not need to go out to the toilet once the fireworks start. If he needs to be taken out again try to wait until after any fireworks finish and always keep him on a leash.
Feed Early
Offer food a couple of hours before the fireworks start and provide lots of fresh water.
Identification
Please make sure your pet is microchipped and or wears a collar with identification tags with your/owners telephone number. This is a huge help if your dog or cat does manage to escape.
For days and even weeks after the fireworks there are posts on Facebook and in Chat Groups from frantic owners looking for their beloved pets or from people who have found/seen new dogs in their area looking lost, disoriented and stressed. All this stress and heartache can be avoided if we act responsibly and take the necessary precautions.
By implementing these simple tips we can all make this festive period a lot less stressful and safe for our beloved pets and ourselves! Please be responsible.
