Bonfire Night might be one of the most
exciting nights of the year for us, but spare a thought for all of the dogs and cats out
there who will be quaking in their beds during the firework season.
Here are Sarah Fisher’s top tips for
protecting your pets:
DOGS
Make sure that your dog isn't hiding in an
alcove in your house because it increases the noise!
Make sure that all of your curtains and
windows are closed tightly so that none of the flashes make it through cracks. This will
also dampen the noise.
Try playing soothing music, that has a
constant rhythm without loud crescendos. It won't be able to cover the noise of the
fireworks but it can mask some of it, and help your dog feel calm.
If your dog wants to go and hide then the
best thing to do is let them get on with it. But do make sure they've got a place to go
and something like a pillow or blanket to put their head under if they need to.
Watch out for the early signs, salivating,
panting, pacing, not settling and lots of eye movement.
If this is the first year that your dog is
showing signs of fear of fireworks then it could be a sign of an underlying health problem
and you should take them to your vet.
Try putting a t-shirt on them. Putting a
T-Shirt on a dog gives them a sense of security, they can feel something all around them,
almost like a hug! It will also give them something else to focus on, and thus take their
mind of the fireworks.
If your dog is very tense then you can try
some body work techniques to try and calm them. Dogs hold their stress in their hind
quarters so gently stroking that area and doing light TTouches is a great way to relax
them. Stroking their ears from the base to the tip and rubbing the tips in a circular
motion can also be very calming.
CATS
Give them somewhere to hide. Put a box in
their favourite room so if they want to bury themselves away they can do it there, for
added security you can put a blanket over it - but making sure they can get out if they
want to.
If you need to lock them in a room then make
sure its in a room that they are used to. Don't put them in the upstairs box room if
it’s not a place where they normally go. Make sure you put their litter tray in the
room with them.
Don't lock them away in a cage, it will
panic them and could do more harm than good.
Most of all, as with all animals, don't let
them out as more animals go missing on fireworks night than any other.
Get a makeup brush and gently brush its
whiskers back against its face and over the head to encourage the cat to blink. A happy
cat will blink and will also run itself along the wall or around your legs or on your
hands. Stroking the cat around the mouth and whiskers with a soft artists water colour
brush or soft blusher brush can help the cat to feel more relaxed. It’s a little like
encouraging a person to smile when they feel sad.
RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS
- If it is at all possible then bring your small animals
inside for bonfire night. If you can’t bring them in to the house, move them to a
garage or shed. If it isn't possible to do that then find a thick blanket that you can lay
over their hutch but make sure the hutch is still well ventilated. Turn the hutch around
so that the opening is against a wall.
- It is important that they have plenty of hay they can burrow
in, which will help them relax.
- Give them plenty of treats
- Smaller rabbits shock very easily so keep an eye on them,
and bring them inside before the fireworks start.
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