Prepare pets early for firework season, urge vet charity PDSA

WITH fireworks night just around the corner, animal veterinary charity PDSA have urged pet owners to start preparing their pets early.

According to the 2022 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, 41 per cent of dogs and 30 per cent of cats are scared of fireworks – that’s 4.1 million dogs and 3.3 million cats across the UK.

The earlier the preparation, the charity say, the easier it will be when the season gets under way.

Preparation is key

• Check the dates of any nearby firework displays so you know when to expect the loud bangs and flashes.
• Make sure you have curtains/blinds on all your windows and close them to block out the flashes of light.
• Shut and secure all windows, doors and cat flaps and play some music or have the TV on to drown out some of the noise outside.
• Build pets a safe haven den.
• Ensure your pet’s microchip details are up-to-date to give you a better chance of being reunited if they run away from home.
• Plug in a pheromone diffuser.

Create a fireworks den

• Make it somewhere they go when they feel worried. Cats often feel safest when they’re up high, so they’ll probably like their den to be on a shelf, on top of a wardrobe, or in the top of a cupboard. A covered cat bed is ideal for helping them feel protected, but make sure it’s well secured and won’t fall off wherever you put it. Dogs may prefer their den behind the sofa, under a table, in a crate, or inside a big, safe, empty cupboard. You know your pet best!
• Make the den before fireworks season starts so they get used to it, and give them treats/praise when they go in so they think of it as a nice place.
• Make it as enclosed as possible by using an enclosed bed, a cardboard box, or by draping blankets over whatever you’re using.
• Make it comfortable with their bed or lots of cushions and blankets, put some of their favourite toys and treats in it, too.
• Give them access to it at all times, but never force them into it or shut them inside it.
• Make sure they have a bowl of water very near to it.
• Don’t be disheartened if they don’t use it, or choose to hide somewhere else. Keep an eye on them when they’re in the den, but don’t disturb them – if they’re in it, it’s likely they want to be alone. Never force them out of the den even if they’ve been in it for a long time – just make sure they have access to food and water.

Pheromones for cats and dogs – get started early

• Plug in your diffuser as early as possible and keep it topped up until fireworks season ends.

When to contact your vet

• If all the recommend steps fail, your vet may be able to prescribe medication to relax your pet on the night. However, this is a short-term solution and you should speak to your vet as early as possible before fireworks season.

Desensitisation

• Step 1: Play firework sounds through a speaker at home, at a very low volume. Act normally, but watch your pet for any reaction which might indicate stress or anxiety. If they react at all, stop the session and start again the next day at a lower volume. If they seem comfortable, keep playing the sounds for a few minutes before turning them off.
• Step 2: Repeat at the current volume a number of times over a few days, and if they seem completely comfortable, increase the volume slightly, and start again from step one – take this slowly, don’t rush to turn the volume up.
• Step 3: Once they are completely happy with very loud firework noises and don’t react at all (desensitisation), you can start convincing them that the noises are a good thing (counterconditioning). Do this by turning on the firework sounds and giving them a treat straight away. As soon as they finish the treat, turn the sounds off. Eventually, your pet will start to associate the noises with a treat and might even start to enjoy the noises or get excited!

For more information and to download PDSA’s free fireworks guide, visit psda.org.uk/fireworks

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