Dogs on Bonfire Night
Whilst this article is directed fundamentally at the safety and welfare of pet dogs it is extremely important to remember that all of the pets we care for can be similarly affected by fireworks.
With November the 5th rapidly closing in on Pet owners and the looming excitement of Bonfire night upon us, it is time to give thought to the safety and welfare of our pets. The thrill of flashing lights, bangs, crackling and large explosive light shows in the sky is a fascinating and hypnotic experience for many adults and children alike. This is unfortunately not the case for the pets we cherish that trust us with their care and welfare. Bonfire Night together with many of the days leading up to and shortly after is probably the most distressing and frightening experience and time of the year for many of our pets.
Dog Firework stress
Whilst Bonfire Night is the clear winner for the instigation of pet misery there are of course many other occasions that cause similar discomfort to our dogs and other pets. New Years Eve, victorious celebrations of specific events together with birthdays and other parties all offer the opportunity to inflict firework misery on our pets. Dogs have very sensitive hearing together with an extremely keen senses of smell. These finely tuned senses work well for our dogs in everyday life but on such celebratory nights as Bonfire Night those same senses work against them.
Bonfire Night and Dog senses
Pet Dogs - The Sense of Hearing
Loud and sudden noises can be a shock to people and dogs are certainly no different. First of all we must remember that dogs have far superior and sharper hearing than humans. The noise we hear and often take for granted is therefore much more intense on the ears of our pets. In fact our pet dogs can pinpoint very precisely the location of noise at more than four times the distance than humans. We do have an added advantage over our pets when it comes to dealing with sound. We understanding the sound and can generally determine quite quickly with our brain what the noise is, where it came from and whether we are at risk from it. Our dogs unfortunately do not have the benefit of this attribute and therefore suffer not only from the intense sound but also the uncertainties that surround it.
Pet Dogs - The Sense of Smell
The very acute sense of smell that dogs have developed provides them with the ability to recognise scents and odours in concentrations of about 100 million times less than humans. Dogs also have the ability to ascertain the direction of smell with their cold wet noses. On Bonfire Night there are many smells that may both discourage or entice our dogs. The best course of action in any event is to keep them indoors. Under the protection of our homes dogs are less likely of becoming afraid or potentially straying towards scents they may wish to investigate.
Pet Dogs - The Sense of Vision
Dogs do not have particularly excellent vision. Our pets sense of sight has been developed primarily through evolution to allow it to hunt efficiently in the wild. Dogs see across a colour spectrum that is similar to human colour blindness with large pupils providing excellent low light vision. The dogs sense of sight is therefore not as efficient during the day as ours but extremely well developed for the explosive displays that fill our sky on Bonfire Night. This sensory overload can be extremely distressing for our pets and exposure to such visual displays should be avoided whenever possible.
Bonfire Night and Dog Welfare
There are some very simple ways in which we can prepare our pet dogs for Fireworks. Everyday care such as the correct diet and regular exposure to crowds and noise through a good socialisation program can be priceless. It could be wise to consider a diet rich in the vitamin B group for dogs that may suffer with nervous conditions. The vitamin B group is recognised for its beneficial properties for helping boost and protect the nervous system.
Common sense prevails when occasions such as Bonfire night and other firework occasions are upon us. Reducing the exposure to noise, smell and light displays together with removing any risk of secondary injury through escaping in fear is an obvious course of action.
Keeping pets indoors with the television or music on at a reasonable level will help to cut down on sudden noise whilst playing with your pet can be another excellent distraction technique. Keeping the dog indoors with the curtains pulled on will also reduce their exposure to any unfamiliar smells and remove their exposure to flashing lights in the sky.
Bonfire Night - Walking dogs outside
If it is unavoidable to prevent your dogs from being exposed to the outside environment it is essential that we take appropriate precautions. Firstly, keep any exposure down to a minimum and stay with your pet so that you can observed at all times. Gardens must be very secure to prevent dogs from running away in fear or potentially pursuing fireworks in the distant sky. Dogs that are travelling through Fireworks in vehicles should always be secured by a dog seat belt and consideration given to prior medication by a suitable sedative. Remember that this should only be carried out with medication recommended by a vet or other such person with the necessary expertise in such products. If you treasure your pet always lead walk them on such occasions. Even if you are certain in your own mind that they will not run away, or out into the road, is it really worth taking the risk?
Dog Bonfire Night Summary
Good vitamin B rich diets can help over a long period for reducing stress by helping the dogs natural nervous system.
Pet Dogs have extremely keen senses of smell and hearing that should be protected from firework displays. keeping them indoors with distractions such as noise from television and music together with interactive play is great for limiting the stress that firework noise may cause.
Dogs have good night vision and keeping them indoors with the curtains drawn can remove the trauma that firework displays can present.
Always keep your dog in a secure garden under constant supervision on Bonfire Night.
Lead walking them when outside will prevent them from running away or into the road when frightened.
Use a dog car harness when your dog is travelling in a vehicle for your dogs and your own safety.
Don’t try and comfort your pet too much if they react to fireworks negatively. This can be construed as reinforcing their fear and actions which can actually cause their behaviour to deteriorate.
Consult a vet or similarly qualified person for dogs that suffer severely on such celebratory occasions. It may be worth considering a form of safe sedative to help your pet through the firework ordeal.
