Fireworks anxiety in pets

The end of the year is fast approaching. For pets that are afraid of loud noises, fireworks cause a lot of stress. Fortunately, with the right training, there are certainly ways to reduce your dog or cat's anxiety. In this blog, you'll read more about what fireworks anxiety in pets entails and we'll give you tips on how to reduce fireworks anxiety in your four-legged friend.

What is fireworks anxiety?

The hearing and sense of smell of animals is much more sensitive than in humans. Therefore, it is not surprising that an animal may be startled by loud bangs and strong smells associated with setting off fireworks. Fireworks anxiety occurs because an animal is startled by the bang that fireworks cause. A traumatic experience can result from this. Fear of loud noises is a natural fear directly related to survival instincts. This fear is often intensified when something is not done immediately to relieve the animal's fear. A dog or cat can also develop a severe fear of loud noises due to repeated startling or other unpleasant experiences. Often pets with fireworks anxiety are also frightened by other loud noises, such as thunderstorms or gunshots.

Symptoms of fireworks anxiety in pets

Your four-legged friend can exhibit many different symptoms by which you can recognize that he suffers from fireworks anxiety. Some common symptoms in dogs are:

• Panting
• Trembling
• Hiding
• Restless walking around
• Refusing to eat
• Being overly alert
• Crying or barking at noise

Common symptoms in cats include:

• Retraction of the neck, head, tail and all paws
• Curved back
• Vocalizing by meowing
• Increased breathing
• Ears folded flat over the sides of the head, wanting to make themselves as small as possible

How can you help an animal with fireworks anxiety?

Fortunately, there are several ways to address or even better; prevent fireworks anxiety. We share some tips with you below:

• Keep dogs and cats inside.

• Create a safe place for the dog or cat and let the animal get used to it in advance so it feels comfortable.

• Make sure windows, doors and cat flap are closed and close curtains to shield flashes.

• Put on music to muffle fireworks noises. Avoid the radio, as this may also play fireworks noises at the turn of the year.

• Take the dog for an early morning walk in a place where there are no fireworks. Do let the dog out during the day so it can do its needs, but do not go out at night.

• Always keep the dog leashed while walking. This will prevent the dog from running away or eating fireworks off the ground.

• Provide plenty of distractions for the dog or cat, such as playing and offering food puzzles/brainwork or a chew snack. Earlier, we wrote a blog about what exactly brainwork entails. Check out our blog with tips on brainwork for pets here.

• Give the animal support and let it come sit with you when the dog or cat wants it. Do not go overboard with the animal by giving it extra attention by, for example, touching it extra much, as this can reinforce the fear behavior. It is important to remain calm yourself and reassure the dog or cat.

• Some animals benefit from certain aids for fireworks anxiety. One example are calming vaporizers. You plug these vaporizers into the wall socket, which releases pheromones, which can have a calming effect on a pet. A thundershirt can also provide relief from fireworks anxiety. A thundershirt for a dog or cat can be compared to swaddling babies: the pressure on the body often calms the animal. Finally, there are also various dietary supplements available that can have a calming effect or a positive effect on a pet's mood.

• Nowadays, there are more and more fireworks-free vacation parks. At these parks, fireworks are prohibited around the turn of the year. If you live in an area where a lot of fireworks are set off, a fireworks-free vacation park can certainly help frightened pets. Just keep in mind to book a trip to such a vacation park in time; as many of these parks fill up rather quickly.

Behavior therapy for pets with fear of fireworks

If the dog or cat has already developed severe fear of fireworks, the above tips may not be enough. In that case, it is recommended to start behavioral therapy. However, it is important to start this on time. This is because most training methods take time to achieve the desired results. An example of a commonly used form of behavioral therapy is sound desensitization. The goal of this method is for the dog or cat to become desensitized to specific sounds. A fireworks CD is often used in this form of therapy. The moment this CD is played, the goal is for the dog or cat to link a fun experience with the sounds of the CD through, for example, play and/or a food reward. You can start at a soft volume and scale it up as you train. If fireworks anxiety is an extreme problem for your dog or cat, have a behaviorist come to your home or contact your veterinarian.

What NOT to do with animals with fear of fireworks

Preferably do not leave a dog or cat with fireworks anxiety alone at home when fireworks are set off. If the animal is frightened by fireworks, do not punish it. The chance that your four-legged friend will become even more frightened will only increase. Forcing something may also increase the fear.

Medication for fireworks anxiety in pets

Do the above tips and training methods not help enough and does your dog or cat still experience extreme stress from his fear of fireworks? Then there is also various medication for dogs and cats available. This medication can certainly help during New Year's Eve. However, always give the medication in consultation with your veterinarian, because not every form of medication is suitable for your pet and every animal reacts differently to medication. Keep in mind, however, that medication is a short-term solution, but it does not address the original problem (i.e., the fear of fireworks).

We wish all owners and pets a happy and safe New Year!

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