Help pets during Guy Fawkes Night fireworks displays

Guy Fawkes Nights – and the weeks around it – bring loud night-time bangs and flashes of fireworks, leaving pets shaking and scared and their caregivers worrying about how to protect them.

Experienced and caring animal experts at Healthy Pet Store have valuable advice to reduce pet anxiety and ensure that dogs and cats are more able to stay calm during this noisy time of year.

Signs of distress and anxiety include trembling, pacing, hiding, or excessive barking – fortunately, there are ways to help soothe your pets and make these nights less stressful for them.

Deborah Burrows, Managing Director and owner of Healthy Pet Store, in Totton says: “Our pets are family, and we all want to protect them from stress and discomfort of unpredictable loud noises. There are several strategies that can help minimise their anxiety from fireworks. Creating a safe space at home, using calming products, and playing soothing music are just some suggestions to help pets feel more secure.”

Top tips from Healthy Pet Store:

• Create a safe space: Set up a quiet, cosy area where your pet feels comfortable at any time, well in advance of the season so it does not become a thing to worry about. Cover their den or crate with heavy blankets and position away from windows and external noise.

• Use calming products: There are various products available, such as calming sprays, drops, plug-in diffusers, or anxiety wraps that can help soothe your pet.

• Overlay outside noise with play and music: Engage your pet with their favourite toys or games, and play calming music. Classical music is known to soothe pets.

• Change up routine: Try to ensure your pet is safely indoors well before fireworks start. This may mean bringing them in the late afternoon or walking them a lot earlier, or not at all. Close windows and draw curtains to reduce noise and outdoor flashes at night.

• Offer support: Pets sometimes take cues from their caregivers. Staying relaxed and acting as though nothing is out of the ordinary may help reduce their anxiety. If pets ask for support and attention, give it freely for as long as they need.

Seek veterinary advice for pets who are unable to settle at all and request prescriptions in advance for use when needed. Severe noise phobia can be a serious condition that can affect the immediate and long-term health of animals.