ALISON LAURIE-CHALMERS: Tips to prevent petrified pets during Halloween and Bonfire Night
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With Halloween and the firework/bonfire season almost upon us, please do “remember remember” that our beloved pets can become upset and extremely anxious at strangely dressed guisers and loud noises.
Halloween, Bonfire night and fireworks can all be potentially extremely scary times for many pets.
Fireworks are enjoyed by people, and can be an exhilarating experience, but around 40 per cent of owners of cats and dogs report that their pet is afraid of fireworks.
Our pets’ senses are much more sensitive than ours, so loud bangs, high-pitched sounds and unexpected flashes of light can be extremely scary for our four-pawed friends.
Luckily, with the right care, you can keep your pet calm and help them cope. Follow these tips to hopefully make these well-established, human celebratory events less frightening for your pets.
Keep your pets safe, settled, and secure on an around Halloween and Bonfire night. Make sure that your dog or cat always has somewhere to hide safely if he or she wants to. For example, use a quiet area under a table with a blanket cover, or in the base of an open cupboard or simply a large cardboard box hidden under a thick blanket on the floor.
Provide a comfy bed in this area and before the firework season encourage your pet to use this safe area by leaving treats and toys there but do not impose yourself here at any time, it should be a place where your pet feels that they are in control. Some cats prefer to be up on an elevated platform so put a blanket up high if they prefer.
During the fireworks season exercise your dog during daylight hours and keep him safe and close to you on a secure lead when you walk him out in the dark. Sensibly, always keep all your pets indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off, for example on planned, timed firework events on Bonfire Night.
At nightfall close all windows and curtains to “black out” the indoor area to avoid flashing lights from fireworks and put on some easy-listening music with a steady, even, rhythmic beat to mask and hopefully muffle the sounds of the noisy fireworks outside.
Let your pet settle down themselves and do not overly fuss over them, leave them alone to seek out their safe place. Try to ignore the firework noises yourself, and act normally.
If you get dressed up for Halloween guising, or any planned, or unplanned, guising guests arrive at your home dressed in unusual, scary attire, your pets, understandably, may be easily petrified. Again, provide a quiet room for your pets with their haven in that room, and discourage any Halloween guisers from going into that area and scaring your pets.
Your front door may be open a lot during the Halloween night, so be vigilant and ensure that your pets are kept safely in a closed-off room. Cats may run off in fear, and then there is a real risk of injury from traffic if they run off in this frame of mind. Also, make sure that your pets are microchipped, and ensure that all the relevant contact details are all up to date.
If your dog has a “doggy friend” that isn’t scared of fireworks, it can sometimes help to bring his friend along for a “sleep over” evening to help your dog to realise that there is no need to be so worried and afraid.
If you have caged pets that live outside, do partly cover their cages with a heavy blanket to shield them from any flashing lights and loud noises and turn the cages away from any open ground. Also provide plenty of extra bedding and hay so that your caged pets can bury underneath this to hide safely.
You may also wish to contact a pet behaviouralist for advice. Also, there are some natural, nutraceutical, calming treatments which can be added to their food that can assist in alleviating stress.
In some severe cases, prescription medications may be required. Contact your vet practice for professional advice and assistance.
Hopefully using this advice and by working with your pets, they may gradually become less worried and anxious during this noisy and potentially scary season.
Alison Laurie-Chalmers is a senior consultant at Crown Vets in Inverness.
