GUY FAWKES NIGHT
The year is racing by! Can you believe we are into October already? Next month is November and that means Guy Fawkes Night and fireworks. Fun for us, but for a large proportion of our pets that means scary stuff!
Guy Fawkes equates to a week or more of unknown scary sounds, explosions and lights. For our pets, the natural instinct is to try to hide from these. For puppies and kittens it is the first time they will be exposed to this; for older animals, there may be a learned fear for these noises. These fears can translate into phobias that may get worse each year.
So what can we do to alleviate fears or at least help our pets cope as best as possible?
- Exercise your dog during the day, with a lead on! If they are out and do happen to get a fright you are still in control.
- Ensure your animals have collars and tags on, or are microchipped, so they are identifiable if they do run away.
- MOST importantly, provide a hiding place for animals to get away from scary sounds and noises. Under beds, in cupboards or in the wardrobe are common places pets will seek out.
DO I NEED TO BE HOME?
The short answer to this is, if possible, then yes. Especially for puppies or kittens who are being exposed to this for the first time. You should try not to make a big deal of the sounds, keep their routine as similar as possible, and if the animal wants to hide allow them to do this. If you can't be home, draw the curtains and leave a television or radio on.
PHOBIAS
These are where the animal gets progressively worse each year. There is relief for these animals that you can discuss with your vet.
- Desensitisation- needs to be done over a period of time before Guy Fawkes. This usually involves getting a cd/dvd of similar noises and exposing the animal to it at a low level over a long period of time to teach them they are safe.
- Pheromones- Maternal dog pheromones can be used to reassure puppies and adult dogs during a period of fear.
- Sedation- anti anxiety medications are often used to help alleviate stress. Beware of sedatives which only restrict your pets movement and don't relieve the fear. This is a sure way to make the problem worse next year!
For most pets Guy Fawkes is a temporary scary issue that comes only once a year. If you are concerned about your pet, the best thing to do is have a chat to your vet about what options or combination of options are best. Remember not to leave things to the last minute, the earlier you start working on this the more effective therapies will be.
