20/10/2026
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💫Whilst the Festival of Lights and bonfire night is filled with magnificent loud booms, skies filled with beautiful lights and that smoky bonfire smell that makes our humans hearts glow and buzz with excitement, unfortunately the same can’t be said for the majority of our furry family members. Most of the time for them, it’s a night filled with odd smells, loud noises, anxiety, sheer terror and utter panic! In fact, sadly, these days it actually lasts for many nights and even weeks, as people try to re-create WW2 in their back gardens.
We here at Paws Naturally have put together a small blog to help guide you and your fluffy loved ones through this season!
🎇Things to prepare in advance:
There are several things you can do to help your cat or dog adapt and prepare on the run up to the main event/s. Ideally you need to start now, allowing them a few weeks to begin working for maxium effect
✨ Natural remedies such as Skullcap & Valerian tablets by Dorwest, Firework & Thunder by Vince The Vet and plug ins like Pet Remedy should be introduced from now. These help to relax your cat or dog, reducing anxiety and fear without causing drowsiness.
✨Get them used to the sounds of fireworks and other loud noises with the sounds from a whole host of YouTube videos or even on your Alexa or Google gadgets. By desensitising them, the night/s noises shouldn’t be as unknown or terrifying.
✨For the next few weeks change up their walking routine especially if they are usually walked in the evening. This will allow time for change so the walks around these events won’t seem to out of sorts and should hopefully cause less stress.
✨ Introduce a safe space or a den if you haven’t one already. If you don’t have a crate, under a bed or a table with a sheet propped over it is a good idea. Begin to use this area positively by adding treats and allowing them to retreat there as and when needed without interruption.
✨ Practice the scarf or bandage wrap. It is said that the wrap helps the dog feel secure, by the pressure applied to the dog’s torso which is said to have a calming effect - see the comment section for a guide.
✨ Now is a great time to make sure your home and garden is escape proof should they they become spooked and bolt. It’s also a good idea to ensure that all microchip details are up to date too!
✨Ask your neighbours to be considerate if they are having a celebration at home. It may seem like an odd request but if you explain the situation most people would be happy to let you know when they are going to begin and to try and go as far back from the house as possible allowing you time to get your dog to their safe space and turn up some mellowing music for calm and comfort.
✨ There are other supplements & homeopathic remedies to buy in advance which will be listed below ready for the night.
🎇 Things to do on the night itself:
So now we have some ideas on how to prepare all we need to do is think about how to be ready for the night itself.
✨On the days when events are taking place it would be best to walk your dog as early in the day as possible and definitely before dark. If you live in a flat and pup needs a toilet break make sure they have a harness or a lead (even both) so they can’t slip through, along with a collar and tag with your details. It’s best not to let your cat out at all on these days in case they don’t come home in time and are stuck scared somewhere away from home.
✨Raw Meaty Bone or chews ….. yes really! By chewing, both cats and dogs release endorphins which will help to alleviate stress this is also fantastic enrichment to keep them occupied whilst in their den or safe space. You could also add in a few other games and even a lickimat with some gorgeous JR pate smothered over it.
✨ Pop on their wrap as shown in the comment section and sit with them, or nearby, but try not to make a fuss. Animals are intuitive beings and they pick up on our stress and this is when they then begin to worry too.
✨Remember those supplements we were talking about? Well there are some that can be used in conjunction with the Skullcap & Valerian and Pet Remedy throughout the day. These include Valerian Compound, Calming Tinture, Helios SOS and Calm X, to name but a few. We can guide you on how to use these – just contact us for assistance.
We also stock homeopathic remedies which can be used, such as Aconite 30c (for fear, truma and stress), Phosphorus 30c (for the noise) and Borax 6c, which works wonders in thunderstorms, so in theory it should also work for other loud bangs.
Give us a call in plenty of time so we can work out what would best work for your pet, and we can ensure it’s with you in time.
✨Pop on a calming dog music station to drown out loud noises. This soft mellow music, can be found on Alexa, Google or YouTube and Classical FM.
✨ Last but not least, please, we implore you, think of other small animals and wildlife if you too are having a celebration. Check the bonfire or trees surrounding you for anything that may be hiding scared animals of any kind.
🎇At Paws Naturally we are always here to help guide you, so please feel free at anytime to contact us about individual needs - and of course, if you also have any tips or tricks of your own for this time, please share below. 🧡🐾
Written by Anna Shaw for Paws Naturally
