Helping Pets Deal with Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night can be great fun with the fireworks, the bonfires, the food and parties.  But for our pets, it can be a time of complete terror as the noises and sights of the even scare them badly.  So what can we do to help our pets on Bonfire Night?

General advice

According to the RSPCA, the first step in helping them deal with Bonfire Night is to make sure they have somewhere to hide.  Most cats and dogs will have a hidey hole that they use if something spooks them, such as behind the sofa or under the bed.  On Bonfire Night, ensure they have easy access to it so if it gets too much, they can go somewhere that makes them feel safe.

Make sure you keep animals in the house on the night as they are more likely to panic and get injured if they are outside when fireworks go off.  If the dog needs to go outside to the toilet, keep them on a leash so if they do bolt, you can control them.  For cats, make sure there is a cat litter box ready for their use and keep them inside.

Ensure that microchip and collar information is up to date in case they do get out and run off.  That way when a vet or animal shelter find them, they can reunite you with them as quickly as possible.

Try to act normal and not make too big a fuss during the fireworks.  Give them their favourite treats in their special bowl or make some time to sit with them if they want to do this but don’t try to force anything on them.  Scared animals are more likely to lash out and this can lead to a nasty injury.  Only interfere with them if they are going to hurt themselves, such as trying to jam themselves into a space too small to hold them.

Other animals

Cats and dogs aren’t the only animals effected by fear of fireworks.  If you have small pets such as rabbits or guinea pigs who live in hutches outside, it is worth covering the hutches to help reduce the impact of the noise and lights.  Make sure they have plenty of bedding so they can dig under it and hide to feel safe.

For those who have birds outside, a bright light is a crucial measure.  This means that if they become frightened and leave their roost, or perch where they sleep, they are able to find their way back again.  Background music can also lessen the impact of the noise from the fireworks and help them remain calm.

Just for dogs

If a dog is particularly affected by fireworks, then it may be worth looking at an animal behaviourist for some help.  Therapies such as Sounds Scary are recommended to help dogs that are very severely frightened by the noise from fireworks but also from other loud sounds that occur during the year.  Therapy such as this can help them cope with the noises and make both yours and their lives less stressful.