Never leave your pet, especially a dog, who has a phobia for loud noises such as fireworks during New Year’s Eve, alone at home.
If you are not taking your pet on holiday, or to a kennel, get a pet-sitter while you are away and who can take care of your animal especially during the hours of firework displays.
It is known that fearful dogs can jump through a glass window to try and escape the noise, or they try to jump over fences and palisades, hurting themselves in the process.
It is crucial to take steps to ensure their well-being and comfort during this potentially stressful time.
Uncertainties such as new surroundings, a change in environment and possible house guests, plus upcoming loud events such as New Year’s Eve, are all factors causing your pets to become extremely anxious, cautions Marycke Ackhurst, pet behaviour expert of Hill’s Pet Nutrition.
“If you already know your pet is easily spooked, it is important to be informed of what you can do to relieve the stress they may feel. It is also important to note that dogs and cats’ hearing is far sharper and much more sensitive than ours. Even if there is loud noise quite a distance from your home, it could still trigger an anxious reaction.
Ackhurst recommends to look out for the following signs of anxious behaviour:
Dogs
nose or lip-licking;
yawning;
excessive panting;
reduced appetite;
tail lowered or tucked;
ears pinned back;
cowering;
trembling or shaking;
increased vocalisations such as whining, howling, barking; and
excessive attention seeking.
Cats
urinating in strange places;
scratching compulsively;
hiding away;
panicked meows or recurrent whining;
aggression;
sleeping more; and
decreased appetite.
To help your pets during this potentially stressful time, Ackhurst suggests the following:
When you are at home during New Year’s Eve, try to cut out the possible background noise from outside. Keep familiar noises or sounds playing in the house such as the TV and background music. The more it seems like an everyday, normal situation, the better.
Create a comfortable, smaller, space in the house for your pet to retreat to when they are feeling anxious. As a distraction from any loud noises, provide them with a tasty chew toy.
Keep outside noises and bright lights at bay by closing the windows, doors and curtains at home.
For outdoor cats who come and go as they please, rather place a litter tray inside and close the doors and the cat flap, so they cannot go outside that evening.
If you cannot stay at home with your pets, make sure someone else they trust is there to calm and reassure them – the less changes during this time, the better.
If you are dropping your pet off at the kennel or cattery for the holidays, make sure they have little pieces of home with them such as their bed, favourite chew toy, and blankie. This way the change of environment will not be as dramatic and stressful for them. You could also consider using dog and cat specific pheromone diffusers, collars or sprays to help them feel less anxious.
Ask your veterinarian about specially formulated foods which help alleviate stress. For severe cases, they may recommend certain medication.
*If you are anticipating a stressful event, such as fireworks or even holiday kennels, it is recommended you transition your pet onto a stress-reducing food four weeks beforehand. However, many pet parents have reported positive results as early as a few days. If your pet is a nervous type, you can consider this food for long-term feeding,” Ackhurst concludes.
Counter-conditioning
Make sure your pet has a collar with your current information in case the animal escapes from the house or yard.
Take your dog on a leash for a long walk before the fireworks start.
Double-check the fit of your dog’s collar or harness before going outside. A leash, even if you have a fenced-in area, is a great added safety measure to help keep your dog close to you and under control should they get startled.
If you suspect your dog will freak out at the sound of fireworks, try playing sounds of fireworks (softly) on several occasions days before the event so your dog is used to hearing them. Try pairing a video of the sounds of fireworks with a treat your dog likes, in a process called counter-conditioning.
– The American Kennel Club on akc.org
