DOGS AND FIREWORKS




It will soon be the height of the firework season and if you've not yet had time to accustom your dog to the sights and sounds of fireworks then you will need to manage the situation. 

If your dog is particularly upset by fireworks and you know there is an event planned close to your home then it may be worth speaking to your vet about medication for that occasion. 

Talking of medication for pets, you may be interested to know that you can view all patented medication for your pets via the Veterinary Medicines Directorate:  http://www.vmd.defra.gov.uk/ProductInformationDatabase/Default.aspx

However, vets often suggest Zylkene or Calmex and these are ‘neutraceuticals’ which means they are derived from food sources which are claimed to have extra health benefits in addition to the basic nutritional value found in foods.  Whilst popular and reported to be effective in many cases, these are not a recognized medication and so are not listed on the VMD site.

Please always check with your vet before giving your dog any product; particularly important if your dog is on any medication.

Managing the Situation during Firework Season

  • Make a note of any firework displays which will be going on near to your home and you may also want to check with neighbours as to whether they will be having any fireworks in their gardens.
  • Ensure your dog has enough mental and physical exercise to allow him or her to be as relaxed as possible when the evening arrives.
  • Make sure you shut doors and windows and draw curtains. This will block out any scary flashes of light and reduce the noise level of fireworks (thicker curtains or blinds are best). 
  • If your dog will not eat when fireworks are going off then ensure he is fed well beforehand so that he does have a meal and that he will have time to digest it before becoming stressed.  If your dog is well exercised and fed he is more likely to settle.
  • Ensure your dog has a place to lie where he feels comfortable.  This might be his crate or you may want to drape a blanket over an area such as behind the sofa, etc, if that is where he chooses to lie.  Usually a covered area will make your dog more secure but you must be the judge of that.
  • If your dog is allowed to lie by you on the furniture, or if you sometimes sit with him on the floor, then that is fine.  Whilst general advice used to be to ignore fear this has never really made sense because if your dog finds comfort by your side then it is a useful way to calm your dog and give him a more positive outcome.  Dogs, like us, find comfort  through physical contact with those they trust.
  • However, whilst you can allow your dog to sit with you, as in the point above, try to remain calm and act as usual.  If you start to act as though you are concerned then this is passed on to your dog and makes things worse.
  • Have the TV or radio on to eliminate as much of the fireworks noise as possible
  • If your dog is happy to eat or play, then try getting him to play some games with toys or hunt for special food treats or give special treats in a Kong or similar food-toy.  Many dogs may be too upset to eat but if you use high-value treats and food games which you know your dog loves then he may be tempted.
Improving your Dog’s Reaction to Fireworks for the Future

Prior to next year, or New Year's Eve fireworks, I would suggest that you work on getting your dogs used to them.  This has to be done very gradually, always at a level which will never upset your dog.  The idea is to allow your dog to accept such noises as normal and with no negative consequence.  The link below takes you to a downloadable fireworks sounds.  PLEASE OPEN THIS WITHOUT YOUR DOG IN THE ROOM AND ADJUST THE VOLUME TO ITS LOWEST

You should then allow your dog to listen to this when the sounds are barely audible and only when your dog is 100% relaxed with the very lowest level should you increase the volume by a fraction. 

PLEASE REMEMBER DOGS’ EARS ARE WAY MORE SENSITIVE TO BOTH VOLUME AND SOME NOISES SO THIS PROCESS HAS TO BE DONE VERY SLOWLY

You can also buy CDs with a variety of noises on which are useful for puppies or older dogs which are noise sensitive.  I have personally used the CLIX Noises and Sounds CD, which I used for many months to prepare my Canine Partners puppy for a working assistance dog life.  The main thing to remember with any of these is:
  • All noises are introduced at a very low volume.
  • All noises are only increased in volume very slowly when the dog is 100% relaxed with the previous level.
  • Remember that your dog’s hearing is way more sensitive than yours.

Whether you have a new puppy or dog, or you have a dog already known to be nervous of firework noises (or other noises) getting your dog gradually used to the sounds, as detailed above, will really help them.  If you need help, please get in touch.

© 2024 Sally Bartlett
07752 427804

 


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