Fireworks Are No
Fun For Pets
by Debbie Boffa
Its October 20 here in the UK
and bonfire night approaches. The shops are full of fireworks and the kids
are clamouring to buy them. You can already hear odd ones going off during
the day where they just cant wait, and my dog, who is nervous at the best of
times has already started to react to them. He is really scared by any loud
noise and fireworks have him trembling and whining all night.
What makes me saddest is that
there is nothing I can really do to stop it, I can only try to make him more
comfortable. At least I do try. I am completely horrified by the way that
some thoughtless people treat there pets on such occasions.
I have seen people taking dogs
to firework parties, leaving them in the car whilst they attend a display,
leaving animals outside completely unprotected in any way from the noise and
bright lights, and even a poor horse left out in a field right next to a
firework display. Are we thoughtless or just plain uncaring. I have to
believe in the former so, I am going to treat it as that and again list what
you can do to help your pet over these (or any other) very noisy occasions.
What are the signs that your
pet is scared
Shaking, trembling Excessive
drooling Barking, howling Trying to hide or get into / out of the house,
fence, or other enclosure Refusing to eat food Some animals may have loose
bladder or bowel control or experience temporary diarrhea from prolonged
stress
Please be aware though that
these are general signs that something is wrong, they can also relate to
other ailments, so if in doubt see your vet.
This is how you can really help
your pet during fireworks
LEAVE your dogs at home please;
if you attend a display, dont take them with you or leave them in the car,
its just not fair. Even the most stable dog will hate the sudden noises, and
that includes Guide Dogs who can get really upset and this can affect their
normally great performance as a guide. If you must go out then dont make a
big deal about leaving them, keep it all as normal as possible, and make
sure you leave all the curtains closed and the TV on.
At home let them find a place
to hide in if thats what they like to do, and leave them there. If they
whine and pace around, let them alone, its their way of dealing with it. If
they want a cuddle they will ask you. If your pet is in a cage indoors then
cover it with a blanket. If you can get the dog or cat into a carrier or
cage they will feel much safer (if they are used to it of course, if they
never go into one then dont force them now). Dont forget to put their
favourite toy in with them.
Close the curtains and put on
the TV or music and keep it as loud as you can bear. This will block out
some of the outside noise. I have a TV in most rooms so I turn each one on
(to a different channel) and for one night ignore the environmentalists who
would have me turn off the ones I am not watching. Sorry folks but tonight
my dog is more important.
If the animals are outside in
hutches or cages, give them extra bedding to burrow into and cover the hutch
with a heavy blanket to keep out as much light as possible. If your horses
are out please bring them into stables or if they dont have stables then
make sure that they are as far away from any potential fireworks as
possible.
If they are stressed, and
behaving badly please dont shout at them, this will only make it worse. Dogs
and cats left indoors on their own will often do damage if they are scared.
Take precautions if you must leave them and put them into a safe, smaller
place like a carrier or crate (not a cupboard!) but an area where they can
make a nest to curl up in. My mums dog heads for the wardrobe every time and
curls up in the back of it. She seems to feel safe there and its dark.
Remember that if really stressed they are also very likely to hurt
themselves as well.
What else can you do?
Some people say that Bachs
Rescue Remedies can work and also aromatherapy. You can also get a Dog
Appeasing pheromone treatment from your vet that is well worth trying, and
they have therapeutic music to play that should calm your pet. I personally
think that the use of music is really good, but what I am trying to do is
drown out the outside noise and the bright lights.
The main thing is to make sure
that your animal is secure. Close windows and outside doors and lock them if
you have a Houdini Dog like mine who can open most doors. Dont forget to
block the dog or cat flap. Dogs have been known to burrow under fences,
break windows and jump huge fences in a bid to escape loud noises if they
have been left outside. Dont walk them at night either, do it during the
day, and keep them on a leash just in case any are let off early.
The days following firework
events can be a nightmare for animal shelters as all the escaped animals who
have fled in panic are brought in, and youd be surprised at how far they can
go when scared. Put some thought into caring for your pet and take the load
off the shelters. After all, you asked for your pet, he didnt ask for you.
Its your responsibility to take good care of him.
About the Author
Debbie Boffa has spent years
raising and training rescue dogs. Her new book Dog Obedience Training and a
new website
http://www.trainingdogsrus.com are the result. She would love to see you
there to get your FREE dog training tips
