With Guy Fawkes coming up, it’s time to plan which firework display you are going to watch! But while these displays are going on, many pets are made to feel worried or anxious by the noises they create.
There are lots of things you can do to help ease these anxieties, and one of our team are always happy to help you with what could be best suited for you and your pet this year.
Things you can do:
- Provide a safe place for your pet to “hide”:
- Somewhere comfortable that your dog or cat likes to be, e.g. behind a couch in a wardrobe that is away from windows and not a large open space in the house, so they feel as if they are hiding away.
- Put their normal beds and blankets in this space so it smells of them, some dogs or cats also like something comfortable that smells of you, like your dressing gown.
- Bring small furries like rabbits and guinea-pigs inside to reduce the noise they can hear. Ideally in a small crate or cage that they are used to, and happy, being in. Provide plenty of food and extra bedding like hay so they can hide inside it.
- Close curtains/doors to muffle the sounds as much as possible and keep the radio/TV on to mask sounds outside.
- Provide toys or treats that they like, and that will keep them occupied, to distract them. These should be given to them BEFORE any “scary noises” start or your dog starts to look anxious, otherwise may be seen as a “reward” for being worried or scared.
Do not punish your dog for being scared, try to let them hide and don’t over react to them being anxious.
On top of these things you can do, there are lots of options of things you can give them to help relax them and make them feel safer:
- Adaptil diffusers, sprays or collars for dogs. Adaptil replicates pheromones released by mother dogs to communicate with her pups, it helps to reassure dogs and ease anxiety.
- Feliway diffusers or sprays for Cats. Feliway is the Cat equivalent of Adaptil for dogs, and can be used to help with a number of different unwanted behaviours which can be associated with stress in cats.
- Pet calming supplements or medications can also be used for animals who need a little extra help to relax. There are a number of different options, so speak to one of our staff to find out what is available for your pet.