Does your pet fear fireworks?
Bring your pet to any of our surgeries for a FREE firework fear assessment consultation.
Bonfire night is approaching, and although it may be a fun time for people, many pets are not so keen on the loud noises and bangs of the fireworks accompanying this event. In fact bonfire night can be an awfully scary time for our pets, and therefore it is important to prepare ourselves to get through it with a minimum of fear and stress. From now until bonfire night we are offering a FREE firework fear assessment consultation in which we will discuss with you the best way to combat stress levels in your animals around bonfire night. To take advantage of this offer, please phone the surgery to make an appointment.
Nantwich Veterinary Group offer some tips:
• Keep your pets indoors, or cover the hutch of your guinea pig or rabbit.
• Exercise dogs during the daytime
• Microchip your dog or cat in case it does escape when it is frightened
• Provide a quiet place to hide, a nice bed with lots of blankets to hide under, or extra hay and straw for guinea pigs and rabbits
• Close the windows and curtains, and put on some music or the television to block out the loud noises
• Don’t fuss or try to reassure your pet when it is frightened as it encourages the behaviour, but carry on as nothing is happening. If the pet is calm you can reward it with a cuddle or small treat
• Install a DAP diffuser as a source of additional comfort. DAP is a synthetic version of a chemical produced by the bitch after birth to reassure newborn puppies, but it also makes older dogs feel more relaxed and confident. It is best to start using this 2 weeks before the event
• Use zylkene, a food supplement made from a protein that has a calming influence similar to tranquilliser drugs as valium, but without the side effects. It can be used in dogs and cats the day before and during the fireworks
• Some animals will need sedatives prescribed by your vet
