Remember, remember your pets this November

Posted October 2009

Autumn is the season of Guy Fawkes Night and Halloween, so while you may be outside celebrating, spare a thought for your pets. Cats and dogs should be kept indoors while the fireworks are flying, and if they are particularly frightened by the bangs and crashes, it may be worth speaking to one of our vets about obtaining a tranquilliser or sedative to calm the nerves. (These are "prescription-only medicines" which decrease the blood pressure, so we may need to examine your pet first in order to ensure that they can be used safely.)

Top ten tips to help your cat cope with firework fears:

• On the evenings you expect fireworks, ensure your pet is safely inside and secure doors, windows and cat flaps
• If your cat hides on top of cupboards or under furniture, leave her alone and do not try to coax her out.  This ‘bolthole’ is where she will feel most secure.  It is important that your pet can access her favourite bolthole at all times
• Plugging a Feliway® Diffuser in the room where the cat spends most of her time 48 hours before the festivities will increase her sense of security
• Make sure your cat is microchipped.  If they do escape, frightened, confused animals can easily get lost
• Ensure your cat is provided with a litter tray both before and during the firework season
• Draw curtains to reduce the noise from outside and play music or have the TV on to help mask the noise of fireworks
• Ignore any fearful behaviour and do not try to comfort your cat.  More importantly, do not try to pick her up or restrain her.  Fearful cats prefer to be left to cope on their own
• Try not to go out while the fireworks are going off.  Stay calm and act normally
• In multi-cat households, shutting cats in overnight may cause disharmony amongst your pets.  A Feliway® Diffuser may help lower tension between cats.
• If you are worried that your pet is taking a long time to recover from the firework festivities, speak to one of our vets.

Top ten tips to help your dog cope with firework fears:

• Prepare a ‘den’ for your dog, so that he has somewhere to hide during the fireworks. Encourage him to use it by hiding healthy food treats or toys there. If your dog hides in a corner or under a bed, leave him alone and do not try to coax him out. This ‘bolthole’ is where he will feel most secure and must be accessible at all times. You can further help create this comforting ‘den’ for your dog by using a plug in D.A.P.® Diffuser
• On the evenings you expect fireworks, ensure your dog is safely inside and secure doors and windows
• Make sure your pet is microchipped. If they do escape, frightened, confused animals can easily get lost
• Ensure your dog is taken out for a walk early in the evening before the fireworks start
• Draw curtains to reduce the noise from outside and play music or have the TV on to help mask the noise of fireworks
• Ignore any fearful behaviour and do not try to comfort your pet. The animal will pick up on your anxiety and this may make the problem worse. Fussing a pet that appears frightened can reward and encourage this behaviour
• Don’t punish your pet. This only confirms that there is something to fear
• Try not to go out while the fireworks are going off. Seeing you acting normally will help your pet feel more settled
• Speak to us about D.A.P.® Spray. It can be applied to your pet’s bedding on the night of the event to give him additional support

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