03/11/2023
🎇🎆🔥Remember remember your pets this November! 🔥🎆🎇
Fireworks season has arrived, and the flashes, bangs, and bonfires are an extremely stressful time for our beloved animals.
Here are just a few tips to help you keep your dogs, cats, horses, and small animals as safe and calm as possible this weekend.
🐈 Cats & dogs 🐕
💥 Make sure your pet’s microchip details are up to date in the database, in case they do run away or manage to escape.
💥 Take your dog for a long walk to tire them out well before fireworks displays are due to begin.
💥 Make sure all doors, windows, cat and dog flaps are closed and locked, and curtains are closed.
💥 Try to keep cats inside with some litter trays and plenty of places to hide. If left outside then they could run from the fireworks in a panic and get lost, or be involved in an accident.
💥 Making a den inside for your dog/cat is a great idea. Any small space will do – cover it over and put their beds inside, you can add a few treats to encourage them to rest in it. This will help them have a feeling of security and block out the noise.
💥 Putting the TV or radio on along with some lights and closing the curtains will help disguise the sounds and flashes, and will make things seem as “normal” as possible.
🎶 Classic FM have a special firework night radio show filled with classical music to help keep anxious pets – and their owners – calm and relaxed!
💥 If your pet prefers to go away and hide, let them. Leave them alone and don’t try to coax them out or comfort them – this is their way of coping.
💥 If your pet is used to seeking reassurance from you in stressful times, then do comfort them as you would normally. Never punish your pet for getting anxious or stressed. It’s not their fault they’re scared and it adds to their anxiety.
💥 Don’t try to restrain your pets by holding them if they are scared, especially cats who prefer to control how they cope.
🐇 Small animals 🐹
💥 Consider bringing your outdoor pets cages (such as rabbits and guinea pigs) indoors. If it's not practical to bring them inside then partly cover outside cages and pens with blankets so an area is soundproofed and hidden, but allow another area for the animals to have the option to look out, and make sure they still have fresh air getting in.
💥 Make sure they have plenty of bedding that they can burrow and hide in.
💥 Move smaller pets’ cages away from any windows or doors, and partly cover with blankets.
💥 Make sure your pets have plenty of hiding places and secure areas in their cages where they can feel safe.
💥 Leave a radio playing near their cage with some background noise to distract from the sound of the bangs.
🔥 Make sure you move and check thoroughly through any bonfires before lighting them. Hedgehogs, mice, frogs, and lots of other wildlife could be hiding in there.
🐴 Horses 🐎
💥 Decide whether to stable your horse or leave it in the field. It is sensible to keep your horse in its familiar environment, in its normal routine, with any companions to make it feel secure. If it is usually stabled, keep it stabled. If it is normally out in the field, keep it there as long as it is safe, secure and not close to a firework display area.
💥 If stabled, check thoroughly for anything that could cause potential injury such as protruding nails and string.
💥 If your horse is to stay in the field, check that fencing is secure and that there are no foreign objects lying around that they might injure themselves if they run around.
💥 Playing music on a radio positioned outside the stable can often mask sudden noise, distract attention and be soothing.
💥 Check if anyone is planning to have a bonfire near your yard. If so, make sure you have an emergency fire procedure in place.
💥 Try to remain calm yourself and keep positive, as horses will sense unease in a person and this may make things worse if the horse is startled. A startled horse can be dangerous so do not put yourself at risk when trying to deal with a spooked animal.
💥 If you know that fireworks are being set off close to where your horse is kept, make sure that you or someone experienced stays with them to help keep them calm.
💥 Provide your horse with some additional hay, or something mentally stimulating like a likit treat as a distraction. As long as it’s not going to be a hazard if your horse is moving/jumping around the field or stable.
💥 Before letting your horse out into the field the next day, always do a thorough check for used fireworks and anything that could be dangerous to your horse. Also check all fences are secure and nothing has been damaged.
💥 Lastly, contact your local pet shop or vet and ask about products such as Nutracalm, Adaptil, Feliway, calm aid, and many more. All of which will help keep your dogs, cats, horses & small animals much calmer during these types of events.
☎️ Most importantly, incase of emergency, always make sure you have the contact details and address of your out of hours vet surgery to hand.
🎇 I hope you all have a safe weekend! 🎆
