Vet advice for pet owners during fireworks season 2024

Veterinary Ireland is advising pet owners on measures to keep their pets safe this Halloween.

For many pets, the colder days, darker nights, and changing leaves of autumn are the first signals that they associate with the sounds, sights, and smells of fireworks.

Fireworks can cause or exacerbate anxiety and stress across all species of pet animals. This can prevent them from eating and drinking normally, stop them enjoying their evening walks or exercise, and prevent some from going to the toilet.

For others, the anxiety escalates to a phobia, which can seriously compromise not only their emotional state, but also their physical health too.

To help pets, Veterinary Ireland is issuing the following advice to pet owners this October:

* Talk to your vet: Your veterinary practice will be able to give you expert “First Aid” advice to get your pet safely through the firework season. There are numerous things your vet can provide you with to help: plug-in diffusers, sprays and collars containing pheromones, food supplements and diets. In severe cases of anxiety, your vet can prescribe short-term medication to help. Longer term, some owners may need to consult their vet about noise desensitisation.

* Ensure all pets are wearing identification tags and have microchip ID. If your pet runs away from the sound of fireworks, the chance of being reunited significantly increases with ID.

* When fireworks may be heard, and especially on the night of Halloween, keep your pet inside with doors and windows closed. Ensure someone remains with your pet and provide a den or hiding place where your pet can feel safe, and where they can be left in peace.

* Exercise your dog early in the day and provide an extra litter tray for cats to avoid the need to outdoors unnecessarily.

* Relax! If you are calm and behaving as you normally would, your pets are more likely to relax too. Listen to the radio, watch a movie, or play a game - that way the household is filled with familiar sounds which help reassure your pet that nothing untoward is happening.

* Remember, cats and dogs have significantly better hearing than humans - you cannot drown out the sound of the fireworks - distraction is a better strategy.

* Giving your pet extra attention to “comfort” them can actually make matters worse. Instead engage them in a game or type of play they normally enjoy. Use long-lasting treats, chews or food-filled frozen toys to keep them busy, but ensure you only give treats or rewards when your pet is calm (not when they look, or sound upset).

* Don’t get cross or tell off your pet if they are misbehaving because of fear, as this will just make matters worse.

* Please DO NOT SHARE any Halloween sweets or treats with your pet. Chocolate is poisonous for dogs and cats and can lead to severe illness or death in extreme cases. Halloween candy can also be dangerous, as some of the sweeteners used (e.g. xylitol) can also cause severe illness and fatalities.

* Pet costumes - Not all pets like or tolerate being dressed up, so “check in” with them and if they struggle when you are putting it on, or immediately want to get it off, or refuse to walk or move normally whilst wearing it, take it off and don’t force the issue.

* Equally remember that people wearing costumes, masks and face paints can be very scary for many pets too, especially for younger animals who have not experienced Halloween previously. Be mindful if you have visitors to your home wearing costumes, as your pet may not react as you might expect. Your pet might feel safer and calmer in its den or hiding place until your visitors have left.

While enjoying Halloween, Veterinary Ireland advises people look after themselves and their pets, and talk to their vet if they have any questions or concerns about their pet, at Halloween or any other time of the year.