Is Your Pet Scared of Fireworks?

If so, you are not alone - recent research suggests that almost half of dogs in the UK show some level of fearful response to loud noises.

Fears of fireworks don't get better on their own - in fact they are likely to get worse over time and lead to other behavioural problems. There are various "cures" on the market - however, although desensitising CDs are thought to work, eventually, they do require daily input by the owner for many months before bonfire night.  We can advise you on this and provide you with a desensitising CD.

At Churnet Valley Vets we are promoting a unique product, called Zylkène.   It is a novel product proven to help manage stress in cats and dogs. It can also help your pet adapt to change. Zylkène is natural, palatable and easy to give with food and only needs to be given once daily.

Zylkène contains a-casozepine, a protein made from cow's milk, which has relaxing properties. It can be used both for short-term stress, eg kennel or cattery stay, fireworks, or long-term eg multi-cat household.

Zylkène should be started 1-2 days before the fireworks are anticipated.  It can then be continued throughout the firework period and then stopped.

What can you do straightaway?

• Provide a den or hiding place, a "bolt hole" - animals naturally hide when they are scared and it can help to provide a "safe place" which they can squeeze into, like an understairs cupboard or an indoor kennel with blankets over the top and inside.

• Muffle the sound of the fireworks - close curtains, shut outside doors and windows, and have your pet as near to the centre of the house as possible.   Put on the TV or radio to mask the sound.

• Keep them inside - don't let pets outside when fireworks are likely, or during a display. Take dogs out for toilet purposes before it gets dark and then keep them in. A firework going off when they are outside can lead to a fear of going out.

• Don't over-fuss them - This can be difficult, but if they rely on you for comfort during scary events, they will be less able to cope when you are not at home and make matters worse in the long term.

• Stay calm yourself - most pets can sense when their owners are worried, and this increases their stress. Let them hide in the den, and leave them there until the fireworks have finished and they come out.  You can give your pet lots of fuss once they emerge.

• Don't get angry - although your pet's behaviour may be annoying it is happening because they are scared, and getting cross will only make them worse. Don't try and take your pet out of its hiding place - this increases their stress and could lead to aggression.

• Prepare for unusual behaviour - fear can make your pet behave out of character. For example, if they anticipate that going into the garden predicts a loud noise, they may hide or show aggression to avoid going outside.

  
  

  Talk to us - we can advise short-term measures which may include medications, particularly if they don't settle but pace around in distress.  This will help reduce you pet's stress during upcoming firework events and help prevent their fears becoming worse.