Keep pets safe and stress free over the firework season

With bonfire night fast approaching and lots of fireworks going off, it is time for pet owners to start keeping an eye on their pets, as it can be a stressful time for many cats and dogs. Bright lights and the huge booms and bangs from fireworks can all cause your pets to become restless and extremely uncomfortable and it is important to do everything that you can to keep pets safe and stress free at this possibly terrifying time of year.

A survey by the PDSA has revealed that 73% of owners have a pet that is scared of fireworks. Of these, a quarter described their pet’s fear as ‘seriously damaging’, with their pets suffering from symptoms including cowering and hiding (77%), trembling and shaking (75%), loss of appetite (28%) and excessive barking (22%). According to the PDSA, an important tip for owners – which many find surprising – is that they should not reassure or comfort their pets if they are scared, as this can make the problem worse. Owners, understandably, want to comfort and reassure pets when they are anxious, but this actually rewards their pets’ fearful behaviour and teaches them that it is the correct response. Instead owners of cats and dogs should behave normally and upbeat so that their pet sees there is nothing to be afraid of.

Other ways to reduce a pets anxiety at his time of year are to make sure that pets are kept inside, make sure dogs are walked earlier in the day before fireworks are set off, draw the curtains, switch on the television/radio to help block out the sound of the fireworks, prepare a den for your pet where they can feel safe, try not to leave your pet alone and try using a pheromone (natural calming scents which only pets can smell) plug-in or spray to help keep your pet calm while fireworks are being set off.

Here at Vetpharmacy, we offer a range of pheromone plug-in’s and sprays to help keep your cat or dog calm. Products such as an Adaptil diffusers (plug-in), Adaptil Spray and Adaptil collars for dogs, can all help to ease your dog’s anxiety. Adaptil, formerly known as DAP, is a range of products which calm anxious dogs by delivering a scent into the air. It cannot be detected by humans, but it seems to have a unique effect on dogs. Pheromones are found widely in the natural world and can have a profound effect on animal behaviour. Dogs with their sensitive noses are known to respond to them, and Adaptil uses this effect in a useful way. Adaptil products contain a compound manufactured to mimic a natural pheromone produced by bitches while feeding their puppies. In puppies it works to reassure them as they explore the world around them. It has been found that Adaptil works on both young and adult dogs, helping to comfort and reassure them in stressful or fearful situations.

Products available to help ease stress for your cat include the Feliway Diffuser and Feliway Spray. Feliway is a feline facial pheromone, which mimics the cat's natural pheromones, creating a state of well-being and calmness relieving pet stress. Feliway creates a reassuring environment calming your cat and stopping such problems as scratching, excessive grooming, urine spraying, restoring your cats health and happiness.

It is important to keep cats and dogs safe from the stresses that can be caused during the Guy Fawkes season. Pheromone based anxiety relief product, such as Adaptil and Feliway are perfect to help calm your pets.