Preparing Your Pets for Fireworks & Bonfire Night

Fireworks & Bonfire Night Post is from 2013 – You might want to use our updated dogs and fireworks blog from 2017.

Calming Tablets/Liquid

Natural supplements such as Serene-Um contain natural ingredients that increase the amount of serotonin produced. This calms your pets and is available in tablet or liquid form. Natural and safe, with no side effects – making it perfect for fireworks, thunderstorms, or traveling.
It is often more effective to start a treatment a few days beforehand.

Thundershirts

Thundershirt is an easy-to-apply pressure wrap that provides constant gentle pressure onto the dog’s torso. Using pressure to relieve anxiety is common practice and has been used by veterinarians for years. No training is required, and visible results are likely with the first usage. But results may vary, so it takes a couple of usages to see results.

Pheromone Diffuser (Feliway/DAP)

Appeasing pheromones are released by queens and bitches when lactating to calm and reassure the offspring – this continues to be effective into the adult stage. These plug-in diffusers release a scentless version of the pheromone to comfort your pet, just plug it into the room most used by your pet, or where anxiety/stress is most visible. Requiring no training, and typically with results in about a week or two – they are very easy to use and a fantastic option for Fireworks & Bonfire Night. For dogs, there’s the Adaptil diffuser and for cats, there’s the Feliway diffuser.

What else can you do?

• If your pet is showing signs of stress, remain calm act normal, and don’t try to comfort or punish him. They will pick up from you that something is wrong and you will actually reinforce his behavior.
• Tire your dog out by taking him for a long walk beforehand – avoid walking after dusk!
• If your pet is seriously stressed by fireworks, consider feeding him earlier so that his eating isn’t affected.
• Close the windows and curtains, and make sure either the TV or radio is on and a bit louder than usual to drown out the noise outside.
• Give him a treat or toy to play with – maybe treat him to a new toy that will keep him distracted.
• Give your pet somewhere to hide, and make sure he can get there if he’s scared. His bed with blankets to hide under will do, but a crate with some blankets draped over it would be better. Put some of his favourite treats in there to keep him distracted.