I understand a lot of animals, wild and in your home suffer this time of year with the fireworks and unusual noises that they can’t see.

 

So I have put together a little document including some tips and tricks to help them all and yourselves stay at ease.

 

Dogs & Cats

Signs and symptoms;

• Pacing

• Hiding

• Barking/Screeching

• Loss of bowel movement (Accidents may occur)

• Wining/Crying

• Extremely irritable

• May growl or become aggressive, so stay alert

Treatments/help;

• If extremely, talk to your vet service for professional help and prescriptions

• Lavender candles

• Turn the TV on or Music

• Provide lots of toys or sniffing activities such as hiding treats in boxes to stimulate their brain and as a distraction

• Keep your emotions in check. The more you worry, the more they worry

• Professional pet calming sprays (pet remedy)

• Provide a safe space. See where your dog goes to hide and place their bed or crate in this area with lots of blankets and toys.

• Sit with them and provide comfort if they look for it. Do not force this as they may react badly (bite or growl) due to being scared

• Keep the rooms light. Darkness is known to make the dogs more anxious when they’re already scared about the loud noises

• If your dog is scared but stays with you, try and show them where the noise is coming from so they can process this and help themselves

• Talk calmly to them. I usually sing to my anxious boy during thunderstorms and he sets right off to sleep

• Do not take your dog for a walk when the fireworks are happening. Keep your cats inside.

• Ignore their behaviour – This may seem cruel, but the more you react to their scared/anxious behaviour, the more they are bound to continue.

 

Small Animals

Signs and Symptoms;

• Pacing

• Fast Movements

• Doesn’t settle

• Grunts or screams

• Aggressive behaviour

• Destruction of their environment

• May mark their territory more than usual

Treatment/Help;

• If in a lot of distress, seek medical help from your professional vet centre

• Music, such as a radio on for the night

• Offer more foraging games such as hiding their food in boxes or on platforms

• Spread their vegetables and pellets around their environment to keep their brain occupied

• *If outside* - Try not to bring inside due to the heat difference (will have to keep inside until spring otherwise) and different smells may stress them out more

• Sit with them for a few hours and talk calmly to them

• Provide more hiding areas

• Spray their back with pet remedy (natural calmer)

• Keep warm, comfortable and spoil them with food more than usual

• Check on them throughout the evening

• Try not to let them rely on you for comfort, must find comfort in their friends and surroundings

*Remember a lot of small animals are prey animals so a lot of this behaviour is normal, but keeping them comfortable and feeling safe is important so they don’t get stressed as it could be fatal*

 

Horses

Signs and symptoms;

• Pacing

• Swaying their heads

• Neighing/distressed Winnie

• Galloping around field

• Destructive

• Off food

• Can become aggressive

Treatment and Help;

• Company

• Prescriptions from your local vet centre

• Avoid keeping them in a small space such as their stable so they do not hurt themselves or others

• Check on them regularly throughout the evening

 

Wildlife

• Please check your bonfires before lighting as wildlife may be hiding/hibernating inside these.

• Make sure your bonfire is safely lit and not surrounded by dried forage. We don’t want to damage their environment in the process.

• Purchase no-noise fireworks so we do not disturb the wildlife and scare them. It could be fatal.

 

 

If you have any questions, please do email thefourpawsagency@hotmail.com or message 07845744891 for extra advice and help!