My pet is afraid of fireworks: what should I do?

People who visit veterinary clinics in December often ask doctors how to help their pets react more calmly to stressful noises. Our small and large four-legged friends – dogs and cats – usually don’t like fireworks, and some are even terrified of them.

New Year’s Eve is a very stressful night for our pets. It’s no secret that many animals are very afraid of New Year’s fireworks.

Although many large cities have already restricted the sale and use of pyrotechnics, there are still fireworks enthusiasts on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Eve. So how can we help our pets?

What to do if your pet is afraid of fireworks?

The most important thing you can do to help a terrified pet is to stay calm and stay close to him. If your cat or dog is afraid of fireworks, don’t leave him alone at home. Respond positively to all extraneous noises, praise your pet for his courage and calm him by hugging or petting him.

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A stressed pet may behave strangely or unusually, so don’t punish him. Once the source of the stress is gone, your pet’s behavior will normally return to normal. This will help you maintain a strong bond with your pet.

Practice and home comfort

You can start accustoming your pet to the sounds and sights of fireworks in advance by playing on your home TV different images and sounds that resemble what can be heard and seen through the window on New Year’s Eve and gradually increasing the volume.

The behavior of the owners is very important. If your cat or dog is afraid of fireworks, create a safe environment for him at home where there are no lights or as few explosion sounds as possible.

Walk

It is also very important not to forget to take your four-legged family members out. If your dog is afraid of fireworks, it’s best to take him outside when there’s less chance of them going off.

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It could be early evening or very early in the morning, when the celebrations have not yet started or have already calmed down.

Pet nutrition

The next phase is very important: meal time. Avoid feeding your pet right before New Year’s Eve. It is best to feed your pet a couple of hours before New Year’s Eve. Stress can interfere with the proper digestion and absorption of food, causing vomiting, diarrhea or simply refusing to eat.

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Sometimes disaster is just a step away, so protection is no shame. Even the most obedient pets can behave unpredictably when stressed and run away.

Marking

Veterinarians remind us that to ensure your peace of mind and the health of your pet, you must remember to microchip your pet and register it in a database, or check with veterinary clinics to ensure that the contact information in the databases is correct and up to date.

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We also want to remind you that all the information in the database is safe, so we can only verify it by scanning the microchip in your pet’s paw at a veterinary clinic. This information cannot be verified by telephone.

Sedatives

Veterinarians recommend calming pets experiencing high levels of stress and fear with medications on New Year’s Eve. At the Begemotas veterinary clinic you can purchase not only sedative tablets or capsules, but also calming pheromones, which help create a calm and safe environment in the home.

Calming pheromones are a special liquid sold together with a diffuser that helps pets maintain emotional stability and spatial orientation.

Veterinarians emphasize that it is very important to use sedatives without a prescription in advance. Sedative tablets and capsules should be taken 4-5 days before New Year, and it is recommended to start using pheromones at home about a week before impending stress.

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It is also very important to pay attention to the dosage of the preparations. Do not exceed the dose prescribed by your vet, and if you have further questions, you can always consult your vet when you visit Begemote or call him by phone.

When to ask for help from a veterinary clinic?

If none of the above methods or preparations have helped your pet, we always welcome caring owners and their pets to our clinic. Dogs and cats whose fear is caused by panic and causes health problems may be given prescription sedatives. However, this can only be done by a doctor after a thorough examination of the animal and after consulting the owner.

The Begemotas Veterinary Medicine Center advises owners of dogs and cats who are afraid of fireworks to take precautions beforehand. Register now for a consultation by calling +370 677 95077 or online.