How to Calm Your Pet’s Firework Anxiety This Bonfire Night

Fireworks and Bonfire Night can be thrilling for many, but for pets, the loud bangs and bright flashes can be deeply distressing. Pets like dogs, cats, rabbits, and smaller animals experience fireworks much more intensely due to their acute hearing, which can even cause pain and panic.

1. Secure a Safe and Quiet Environment

Keep your pets indoors during fireworks season to reduce noise and prevent escapes. Close doors, windows, and cat flaps securely, and draw curtains to dim flashing lights. Providing a cosy hideaway, such as under a bed or a favourite blanket, can offer them a retreat where they feel safe and calm.

2. Prepare with Early Walks

Take your dog for a long, early walk well before fireworks begin to help tire them out. A well-exercised dog is more likely to rest peacefully during the noisy evening.

3. Create a Familiar Comfort Zone

Set up a quiet den with familiar scents and favourite toys or chews. Alongside smells like your worn clothes, this safe space encourages pets to seek refuge without feeling forced, reducing stress.

4. Use Background Noise to Muffle Fireworks

Playing television, radio, or calming music at a comfortable volume helps mask outside firework sounds. This can soothe anxious pets by preventing sudden loud noises from dominating their environment.

5. Gradual Desensitisation Training

Before fireworks season, gently expose pets to recordings of firework sounds at a low volume combined with treats and play. Gradually increase volume over days or weeks to help desensitise them, associating fireworks with positive experiences and resilience.

6. Employ Calming Aids

Pheromone diffusers and sprays can reduce anxiety when plugged in or applied 48 hours before fireworks. Vet-recommended calming supplements are also an option to alleviate stress through natural or medical support.

7. Monitor and Understand Stress Signals

Panting, yawning, hiding, trembling, or excessive licking may indicate stress. Recognising subtle signs allows earlier intervention and comfort for your pet.

8. Consult Your Vet for Severe Anxiety

If your pet has a history of severe fear or panic related to fireworks, talk to your vet ahead of Bonfire Night. They may prescribe medications or tailor calming strategies to safely ease your pet’s distress.

9. Comfort Without Forcing

Remain calm yourself and offer gentle reassurance if your pet approaches you, but respect their desire to hide or be alone. Forcing interaction can worsen anxiety.

10. Protect Small Pets

For rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and birds kept outdoors, cover cages with thick blankets or duvets to dull noise and provide extra bedding for insulation. If possible, bring them indoors or to a quiet shed or garage, allowing them to acclimate to indoor settings in advance.

11. Keep Horses Calm and Safe

Avoid setting off fireworks near horses or ponies, whether in fields or stables. Maintain familiar routines and surroundings, and never ride horses when fireworks are likely to be nearby.

12. Identification and Microchipping

Ensure dogs and cats carry up-to-date microchips and ID tags. This provides peace of mind if an anxious pet escapes during noisy celebrations, increasing the chance of a safe return home.

Implementing these expert tips helps you provide a compassionate, secure environment for your beloved pets during fireworks. Planning ahead, creating reassuring spaces, and seeking professional advice when necessary supports responsible pet ownership and wellbeing, ensuring your animals are safe and calm throughout Bonfire Night festivities.