Important to Know: How to Help your Dog Cope with Fireworks this Halloween/Bonfire Season!

Authored by Hollie Furey

If you own a dog, they will likely experience some stress from the firework displays going on. Some dogs react to fireworks and loud noises more severely than others. This article provides tips for coping with mildly distressed dogs, as well as coping with extremely distressed dogs from fireworks.

We strongly advise preparing ahead of when the fireworks start to reduce your dog’s stress levels. If you are at all unsure, book an appointment with one of our team to get some valuable advice.  

In this article, we have split the tips into the categories of mildly and severely anxious dogs.

Quick Read:

1.    We advise making a doggy den for your dog to hide in and feel safe so that it is ready ahead of the fireworks and your dog feels happy to go in it.  

2.    We advise staying with your dog, playing with your dog, closing curtains and turning on the TV as a distraction during fireworks.

3.    Calming products such as the canine Adaptil diffuser, Pet Remedy, Calmex supplements and ThunderShirts can help to calm your pet.

4.    As a last resort, prescription anxiety medication is available for those severely affected and anxious dogs that get extremely distressed from fireworks. This medication would need to be discussed with one of our vets so make sure you book in advance of the firework period.

It is essential to prevent anxiety from fireworks that you introduce your puppy slowly to loud noises from 3-16 weeks of age.

Is my dog worried about fireworks?

In many instances it is obvious your dog may be worried, or terrified about fireworks. Some pets it is more subtle, and in these instances, just because the outward sign is not as obvious, doesn’t mean their fear and anxiety is any less severe than more vocal or destructive dogs. 

Common signs of fear and anxiety are:

·      Hiding 

·      Trying to escape 

·      Barking

·      Toileting in the house

·      Wanting more attention than normal

·      Refusing to eat/ off their food

·      Pacing 

·      Panting

·      Salivating 

·      Shaking 

·      Licking lips

How to Prevent Firework Sensitivity:

We understand that it is upsetting for owners to watch their dogs frightened and upset due to fireworks. This is why we recommend that puppies are gradually introduced to loud noises during their essential socialisation period of 3-16 weeks of age. It is crucial that they experience these “frightening” noises as a puppy so that they are better able to cope with loud noises such as fireworks when an adult. Puppies should be exposed to different sounds and loud noises slowly once settled in their new home and with the reassurance of their owners after developing a suitable bond.

You can play the Dog Scary Sounds CD or play a free version from Dog’s Trust to puppies to help prevent a fear of fireworks developing. We advise slowly increasing the volume of the CD over time and having the CD on in the background.

Preparing for Fireworks – Mildly anxious dog:

Setting up a Doggy Den:

A den is a good way to help your dog feel safe during the fireworks. If they hear a noise that frightens them, they can hide in their den to feel more comfortable. Choose an area in the home where you can make them their own space. We would advise putting a pet bed under a table covered with blankets. If you have a dog crate you can put blankets inside and over the top of the crate. Try to soundproof the area as much as possible. Introduce your dog to their den in advance of fireworks so they become comfortable with it being a safe space. Build up positive associations with the den by giving your dog toys and treats.

Fireworks CD, or YouTube sounds:

To try to acclimatise your dog to the sound of fireworks you can play Dog Scary Sounds CD, play a free version from Dog’s Trust or stream sounds from many media channels, quietly to begin with as not to stress or upset your dog. Over the course of the coming weeks, we advise to slowly increase the sound one click at a time without your dog noticing so that on fireworks night they are not frightened by the loud bangs. However, like the doggy den, this needs to be planned and started in advance of the fireworks.

During Fireworks:

• Keep your dog inside with the windows, doors and curtains closed. Put on the TV or play music to help disguise the noise.

• Comfort and reassure your dog. If you stay calm, your dog will be much more likely to stay calm too. Stay with your dog during fireworks. If you need to leave the house, try to find alternative care for your dog. 

• Invest in pheromone support/diffusers. Pheromones are chemical signals which are released by dogs to communicate different types of messages to themselves or others. There is a ‘dog appeasing pheromone’ that can calm pets in stressful situations. You can purchase the pheromone plug-in such as the Adaptil plug-in diffuser from us to provide re-assurance. It’s a good idea to place the calming diffuser close to your ‘doggy den’ for maximal effect. If you are thinking of ordering a diffuser contact us in advance on 0121 270 5800 or book an appointment online.

• Another product called Pet Remedy uses a blend of essential oils to create a calming environment to help ease the nerves of anxious or stressed pets. Pet remedy is safe for your pet and is available in diffuser form, sprays and wipes.

• We advise trying nutraceuticals such as Calmex capsules to reduce stress and anxiety. Calmex is an oral supplement in tablet form that does not cause sedation and is available via our vets. It promotes happy and playful behaviour by increasing serotonin levels (the happy hormone). We would advise that you start using Calmex at least 5 days before the fireworks start to get the best chance of success.

• Investing in a ThunderShirt – a ThunderShirt is a doggy coat worn by your dog and applies a gentle constant pressure (like a hug) that has a calming effect. ThunderShirts are very popular and are available from most pet shops.

• Keep your dog away from firework displays. Walk your dog before it gets dark and make sure that you’re home before any fireworks could start.

All of the calming products mentioned above can be used in conjunction with one another.

Preparing for fireworks – Severely anxious dog:

Here at James Horner Vets, we understand that some dogs do get extremely stressed during the fireworks and this can be very upsetting for owners. We would advise that you follow all of the above advice given for managing a mildly anxious dog during fireworks and if this is not sufficient we would advise booking an appointment to discuss anxiety medication options.

Anxiety Medication – Reserved for only Severely Anxious Dogs during Fireworks:

If you are thinking that your pet would benefit from anxiety medication to help cope with the fireworks please contact the team. We must stress that you must try the above coping methods beforehand as we reserve the anxiety medication only for extreme cases. One of our friendly vets would need to assess your dog in order to prescribe suitable medication. We would advise bringing along a video with you of your dog’s response to fireworks from previous years or reacting badly to loud noises.

Different Types of Anxiety Medications

A gel called Sileo is clinically proven to be safe and effective if your dog is still very anxious and not responding to the above recommendations. The gel is applied inside the dog’s cheek and relieves anxiety without any sedating effect. It is ideally given half an hour before fireworks start but works well even if the dog is already showing signs of fear and can be repeated after 2 hours.

Anxiety relieving drugs such as diazepam are also effective in reducing noise related anxiety. Diazepam can block the pet’s memory of a stressful event and reduce their panic. The side effects of diazepam include sleepiness, increased appetite, incoordination, weakness, drooling and possible aggression.

Medications used as antidepressants in humans can be useful in sound sensitivities in dogs. Selegiline and clomipramine are both licenced for use in dogs. However, these medications can take up to 4-6 weeks to have their best effect.

If you think that your dog may benefit from anxiety medication to help cope with the fireworks and you have already tried the above tips then please contact us on 0121 270 5800 or book an appointment online and the vet can assess your dog.