Molesey Vets: Keeping your dog safe during firework season
August 2, 2023
Our team of Vets advocate early preparation for firework season. The bright lights and loud noises associated with fireworks can cause your dog a large amount of stress – something which can be helped with plenty of preparatory work. Chat to our team or book and appointment online with our experienced dog vets to discuss your pet’s options for a calm firework season.
At your dog’s appointment, we will discuss their usual routine, behaviour and personality to create a tailored plan for them. We know each dog we treat is unique so we must discover what is best for the individual.
Products we could recommend trying, depending on your dog, are as follows:
Pheromone diffusers
These release synthetic, man-made pheromones mimicking the natural calming pheromones released by dogs. These diffusers will help to reduce their anxiety levels during firework season.
Thundershirts
A vest that provides constant but gentle pressure to your dog’s body. This will have a calming effect, similar to a baby being swaddled.
Calming supplements
These promote relaxation and come in various forms, such as dog chews, tablets and liquids. They tend to use ingredients thought to contain calming properties such as chamomile, valerian root and L-theanine.
Prescription medication
There are a number of different medications that could be prescribed by our team at Molesey Vets. Sedatives and anti-anxiety medication amongst others, can medically help to reduce your dog’s anxiety by reducing the serotonin levels in their brain. There are either long-acting or short-acting options available and both will need to be dispensed and their dosage prescribed by a vet who has examined your dog. Book an appointment with us to discuss these.
As well as the products above, there are a number of different management techniques you can try at home to make firework season easier for your dog:
Safe space
Create a safe space for your dog to hide when they’re feeling anxious. This could be a quiet corner of a room away from a window. It’s essential that your dog feels like they’re in control in this area. Once they take themselves to that area, avoid interfering with them.
Positive association
Use their favourite bedding/toys/treats in this area so they start to associate positively with it and ensure they have access to it at all times.
Limit loud noises
Muffle the sound of fireworks by shutting windows and black out the light flashes by drawing the curtains/blinds. Also, putting on the television or playing music in the background will help distract your dog – Classic FM’s pet classics is a hit for pets across the country, learn more about this here.
Daytime walks
Walk your dog during daylight hours and make sure they are snuggled up indoors when it goes dark to avoid them getting spooked when early fireworks are set off.
To conclude, there are a number of different ways that owners can help their dogs during firework season, but our team of experienced vets can advise and help when needed.
Book an appointment with our team of dog vets well in advance of any firework events in East Molesey to give your pet the best chance at a calmer firework season.
