As the nights draw in and the festive season approaches, firework displays become increasingly common. While they might be dazzling for us, many pets experience severe anxiety and distress during this time. In fact, according to a PDSA report, around 40% of dogs and 34% of cats in the UK show signs of fear in response to fireworks. That’s a lot of pets struggling to cope with this noisy, unpredictable season.
Creating a Safe Haven at Home
The good news is that there are steps you can take to make your home a sanctuary for your pets during firework season. The key is to create a space where they feel secure and shielded from the stress.
Here’s how you can help them feel safe:
- Set up a quiet zone: Choose a quiet room in the house, ideally away from windows. Ensure the space is cosy and filled with familiar objects like toys and bedding.
- Block out the noise: Keep windows, curtains, and doors closed to reduce the volume of outside noises. You can also play calming music or turn on the TV to mask the sound of fireworks.
- Comfort through scents: You can spray calming products like the Mountain Garden Botanics Natural Calming Mist, which can be applied to your pet’s bedding or directly onto your dog or cat. The Sweet Dreams Bed Mist is another great option to use on bedding to create a relaxing environment.
- Maintain a routine: Try to keep feeding and bedtime routines consistent. Predictable daily activities can provide a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos outside.
Firework Season Dos and Don’ts
Fireworks can be traumatic, especially for dogs, and while cats tend to hide, dogs might exhibit frantic or erratic behaviour. To manage these situations:
Do:
- Walk dogs early: Aim for an early evening walk before it gets dark and the fireworks start. This reduces the risk of encountering any startling bangs.
- Keep doors & windows closed: If you enter or leave the house, make sure that your dog doesn’t have access to bolt outside at the sound of fireworks. Keep windows closed to reduce the noise and also to prevent cats from escaping.
- Stay calm and confident: Pets are sensitive to your mood. If you remain calm, they’re more likely to stay calm too.
- Give them space: If your pet wants to hide, let them. Don’t force them out from under the bed or out of their hiding place as this can increase their stress levels.
- Desensitise to noise: It’s never too late to start desensitising your pets to loud bangs of fireworks. The Dogs Trust provides a fantastic Sound Therapy page that offers free sound files to gradually introduce pets to firework sounds. Start with very low volumes, rewarding them for staying calm, and slowly increase the volume over time.
- Play calming music – Radio stations such as Classic FM usually play soothing music on bonfire night that is designed to help calm pets, but if Elgar and Einaudi aren’t to your pet’s taste, then any calm relaxing music should do the trick!
Don’t:
- Don’t punish or scold your pet for showing signs of anxiety or fear. It will only heighten their stress.
- Avoid leaving pets outside: Even if you have a secure garden, fireworks could cause your dog or cat to bolt in panic. Keep them inside, and make sure your cat flap is locked if your cat is a roamer.
- Don’t fuss too much: While comforting your pet is important, excessive petting or cooing can inadvertently reinforce their anxious behaviour.
Calming Products to Help Pets Relax
Thankfully, there are several natural remedies that can help soothe your pet’s nerves during this challenging time. At Imperial Pets, we stock a range of trusted calming products designed to help your furry friend relax.
- Dorwest Scullcap & Valerian Tablets: Suitable for both cats and dogs, these tablets are a safe, effective option for general anxiety, promoting relaxation without sedating your pet. Ideal for giving over a longer period of time.
- Dorwest Valerian Compound: This liquid form is fast-acting and ideal for use in sudden stressful situations, like unexpected fireworks. This can be given on its own or given along with the tablets as a calming boost when fireworks are at their peak.
- Hilton Herbs Tranquility for Dogs: This herbal blend helps calm dogs that are prone to anxiety. We also offer Tranquility Gold, which is a liquid formula for more intense or immediate support.
- Hilton Herbs Kitty Kalm: Specifically formulated for cats, this herbal supplement by Hilton Herbs helps keep your feline feeling calm and relaxed.
- Proflax Calm and Collected for Dogs: This supplement supports emotional balance while also promoting overall wellbeing. It’s made from a blend of herbs that help reduce anxiety and stress in dogs.
- Proflax Omega Calm: A highly nutritious option that not only calms your dog but also supports their immune system with omega oils and herbs that soothe anxiety. This is a more powerful blend compared to the Proflax Calm and Collected above.
- Proflax Superchew Calming Soft Treats: Ideal as a tasty treat while helping to naturally calm your dog.
- Broadreach Relaxing Moments Calming Spray: Perfect for use on bedding, this spray helps create a peaceful environment.
- Mountain Garden Botanics Natural Calming Mist: This is another excellent option that can be sprayed onto bedding or directly onto your dog or cat, helping them feel more at ease.
- Mountain Garden Sweet Dreams Bed Mist: Ideal for use on bedding, this mist is formulated to encourage relaxation and restful sleep during stressful times.
Calming Dogs with Jumpers and Jackets During Firework Season
An effective yet often overlooked way to help calm anxious dogs during firework season is by using specially designed jumpers and jackets. These garments provide gentle, comforting pressure, similar to a hug, which can help reduce anxiety in dogs.
The concept is similar to how weighted blankets work for humans; the pressure can make dogs feel more secure, helping them to remain calm when they're feeling stressed or anxious. While it might not completely eliminate their fear, it can certainly help take the edge off during those particularly noisy nights.
How Do Calming Jumpers and Jackets Work?
The snug fit of a calming jumper or jacket applies gentle, consistent pressure to your dog’s body, which can have a soothing effect. This pressure helps to:
- Lower anxiety: By stimulating pressure points, these garments can help reduce your dog’s stress levels.
- Reduce restlessness: The feeling of security provided by a fitted jumper or jacket can help dogs settle down instead of pacing or shaking during fireworks.
- Increase comfort: In addition to calming nerves, these garments keep your dog warm, which can be especially beneficial for dogs that feel the cold or are more sensitive to chilly weather during autumn and winter.
HotterDog Fleeces for Calming and Comfort
At Imperial Pets, we stock HotterDog Fleeces (made by Equafleece), which are perfect for both keeping your dog warm and helping them feel more secure. These fleeces are soft, snug, and made to fit comfortably, offering that reassuring pressure that many anxious dogs crave.
Benefits of the HotterDog Fleece:
- Comforting fit: The snug design applies light pressure across your dog’s body, similar to a calming jacket, which can help soothe anxiety during stressful situations like fireworks.
- Warmth: Ideal for colder nights, the fleece also keeps your dog warm, which is particularly beneficial during the autumn and winter months.
- Easy to wear: The fleece is stretchy, comfortable, and doesn’t restrict movement, making it perfect for dogs who might not like bulkier jackets, it also gives good underbelly protection from muddy walks!
Pairing a HotterDog Fleece with other calming aids, like herbal supplements or sprays, can create a comprehensive strategy to help your dog cope with firework season.
Start Preparing Early
If you know your pet struggles during firework season, the earlier you start preparing, the better. We recommend starting earlier in the year with desensitisation, and carry on throughout the year well before fireworks begin. Even if you're only just reading this, and it's almost firework season, begin introducing desensitisation techniques now, but make sure you carry on with it well into the new year for as many months as it takes so that your dog is well and truly prepared for next year. Stock up on calming products to avoid the rush as Bonfire Night and New Year's Eve approach. Every little step you take to ease their anxiety can make a world of difference to your pet’s well-being.
For dogs with severe anxiety issues, we would recommend to start giving calming remedies about 1-2 months before fireworks start being let off, but it’s not too late to start at any point within the month before.
Advice for Other Pets
Firework season isn’t just stressful for cats and dogs—animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs horses and chickens can also become anxious or agitated. These animals have sensitive hearing and a strong flight response, so it’s important to take precautions to keep them safe and calm.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are particularly sensitive animals, with acute hearing and a strong flight response, making them vulnerable to stress during firework season. Sudden loud noises and flashing lights can cause anxiety, and in some cases, severe panic. Here are some practical tips to help keep your small pets calm and safe when fireworks are going off.
Tips for Keeping Rabbits and Guinea Pigs Calm During Fireworks
- Bring them indoors: If your rabbit or guinea pig lives outside, consider bringing their hutch or cage inside the house, ideally in a quiet room, well before any fireworks are expected. If bringing them indoors isn’t an option, try moving their hutch into a shed or garage for more protection from the noise.
- Soundproof the hutch: Whether indoors or outside, cover their hutch or cage with heavy blankets (leaving enough ventilation) to help muffle the sounds of fireworks and block out flashing lights. You can also add extra bedding, which allows them to burrow and feel more secure.
- Mask the noise: Keep the windows and doors closed, and play some calming music or leave the radio or TV on at a low volume to help mask the sound of fireworks.
- Provide hiding places: Rabbits and guinea pigs feel safer when they can hide, so ensure they have plenty of hiding spots like tunnels, boxes, or igloos inside their hutch or cage. This helps them feel secure if they need to retreat.
- Don’t disturb them: Avoid overhandling your rabbit or guinea pig if they seem anxious. Let them stay in their safe space, and try not to make any sudden movements or loud noises around them.
- Keep them with a companion: If your rabbit or guinea pig has a bonded friend, make sure they are together during firework season. Having a companion can help reduce stress and provide comfort.
- Offer calming herbs: You can add calming herbs like chamomile or lavender to your rabbit or guinea pig’s environment, which can have a soothing effect. Just ensure they are safe for small animals and offered in moderation.
- Use calming sprays: Mountain Garden Botanics Natural Calming Mist, available at Imperial Pets, is suitable for both rabbits and guinea pigs. You can lightly spray it on their bedding or in their hutch to create a more relaxed atmosphere.
Tips for Keeping Horses Calm During Fireworks
- Stable your horse early: Make sure your horse is safely in their stable before nightfall to avoid the risk of them bolting if they hear fireworks while outside.
- Block out noise and light: Keep stable windows closed, and play soft, calming music or a radio to drown out the fireworks. Cover stable doors with a blanket to reduce the flashes of light.
- Provide plenty of hay: Horses often relax when they are eating, so give them extra hay to help keep them occupied.
- Stay calm yourself: Horses pick up on their owners’ moods, so try to remain calm and relaxed. If possible, stay with your horse for reassurance, but don’t crowd them.
- Check for safety: Make sure the stable and field are secure, with no risks of your horse escaping or injuring themselves in panic.
- Consider calming supplements: If your horse is particularly anxious, natural calming supplements like Hilton Herbs Calm & Collected may help them stay relaxed. It’s best to start these a few days before you expect fireworks.
Tips for Keeping Chickens Safe During Firework Season
- Lock them up early: As dusk falls, ensure all chickens are securely in their coop to prevent them from being startled and running into harm’s way.
- Cover the coop: Draping a heavy blanket over the coop can help muffle the sounds and block out the flashes of light that might disturb your flock.
- Ensure comfort: Provide plenty of bedding and nesting materials. Chickens feel safer when they can snuggle down in a warm, cosy environment.
- Keep things normal: Maintain your usual feeding and watering routine. Consistency can help chickens feel more secure.
- Reduce stress with supplements: Adding herbal remedies like Hilton Herbs Tranquility to their feed may help keep chickens more relaxed.
- Inspect the coop: After the fireworks, check for any signs of panic or injury. Chickens might injure themselves if they try to escape or flap around in the coop.
Join the campaign
Unfortunately, there is still no law against fireworks being sold for private displays. These small back yard displays tend to be the main culprit for many animals suffering as they are so close to homes, and you never know when they are going to be set off. Fireworks, if they are going to happen every year, should be kept to organised public displays on set evening when you can be aware of them and can plan ahead. The RSPCA have set up a campaign to try to get the law changed on the purchase and use of fireworks. Visits this link to find out more and get involved: