A night full of bright lights, loud bangs, and surrounded by friends and family. It can be an exciting night for us humans, but not so much for our furry family members.

The loud noises and flashing colours can make most animals distressed, causing them to bolt, hide, or possibly injure themselves while they are in a distressed state. Learn more about looking after your pets before setting off the fireworks.

Pets get anxious for a variety of reasons such as being around strangers, other dogs, cars etc., but even more so when it is unexpected like sudden noises. Fireworks is another reason your pet can become anxious and distressed. Unlike a thunderstorm, the bangs and flashes from fireworks are unnatural and your pet just isn’t able to sense it coming like they would sense the drop in barometric pressure, etc. before a storm hits. Some signs of an anxious pet may be:

• • • Avoidance behaviours. This could be your pet cowering with tucked tails or flattened ears or hiding under furniture.
    • Toilet accidents. Cats may go outside their litterbox or elsewhere in the house (especially a hidden quiet corner), whereas dogs may toilet where they shouldn't like your bed or couch as the anxiousness may lead to less control over bladder function.
    • Louder or more frequent vocalisations. You may hear your dog start to bark loudly and frantically, or hear them whining/whimpering, when they encounter something stressful or that triggers their anxiety. Cats are similar and may meow more, yowl, or whine during stressful situations.

Combined with the possibility of people coming and going from you or your neighbours backyard or house during a fireworks night, this may cause anxiety and distress in your cat or dog. It is also important to remember that cats and dogs have excellent hearing, which means sounds can be louder to them than we perceive.

Learn more about anxiety in cats.
Learn more about anxiety in dogs.

There are several ways that you can help keep your pets safe before the fireworks start:

• • • Ensure your pet is microchipped and registered with correct contact details. Check their collar and ID tag has correct info on it too. This will ensure that if you pet bolts away from the loud unexpected noises and become disoriented or lost, you can be contacted.
    • Create a safe space for your pets where they can retreat to and can comfort themselves when the loud noises start. This could be the room where their crate is. Or if you don’t have a crate, you could move their bedding into a spare room and items of your clothing into the space so they feel more comfortable.
    • Provide additional support to soothe your pets’ anxiety. There are several anxiety and calming diffusers available that can be placed in your house or spare room to provide a calmer environment before your neighbour lights their first firework. There are also travel sprays that provide a convenient way to calm and soothe your pets around the house too.
    • Get the basic doggy do’s out of the way like taking your dog for their walk and feeding their dinner before the fireworks start where possible. This can also apply to cats, let them outside during the day to use up their energy (or play with them before the fireworks start) and make sure they are back inside and fed before the fireworks kick off.
    • Give your pets something to keep their mind busy like interactive puzzle feeders. There are several options for cats and dogs that can be filled with their favourite treats or, better yet, calming treats. But remember, let your pet hide in their safe space if they want too - don’t try and force them to come out and this may cause further stress.
    • Create distance between fireworks and your pets. It goes without saying that you shouldn't let off fireworks near your pets and, where possible, set fireworks off as far away from your pets as possible (or, better yet, attend a planned and controlled firework display organised in your community). You may also want to consider chatting to your neighbours before fireworks begin so they are aware of your pets and the potential issues that the loud bangs can have.
    • De-sensitisation to firework noises. Another option your vet may recommend when dealing with pet anxiety is slowly getting them use to the thing that causes the stress/anxiety. Always consult your vet for the best way to approach de-sensitisation for your pet as every pet is unique and different. they may recommend playing a fireworks video or sound at low volume in your house so your pet gets used to the sound and, with the addition of treats and calming aids, hopefully create a neutral association with the noises.

Hopefully these tips help to prepare your space to soothe your pets when the fireworks go off. If you are concerned how your pet may react, or think that your pet may have a phobia of fireworks, consult your vet for the best way to address it. If you need any further help or have a question we haven’t answered, contact our friendly Pet Direct Customer Care team on 0800 200 240 or email support@petdirect.co.nz.