New Year’s Eve celebrations can be fun but potentially frightening and hazardous for the furry friends we love so much. Fireworks anxiety in our pets on New Year’s Eve happens because our cats and dogs are very sensitive to loud noises. The frightening explosions accompanying fireworks are incredibly terrifying for them.
If our beloved pet is whining, hiding, barking, trembling, drooling, or trying to escape, it’s also unsettling for humans. The last thing we need is the traumatic experience of trying to find a lost, badly frightened, runaway pet we love very much in all the confusion of New Year’s.
Let’s explore how we can prepare for fireworks anxiety and help our furry loved ones cope with their stress and trauma so that everyone can enjoy a safer, happier holiday.
How to Help Our Pets Cope with Noise
First, we must ensure that our pets are in a safe, secure place they cannot escape. The most significant causes of pet injuries over New Year’s Eve are cuts and lacerations from escape attempts or even more severe injuries from being struck by a vehicle after escaping.
Making sure our pets have identification tags or microchips in case they do manage to get out in an attempt to find safety can help us find them faster and reduce our anxiety.
In the house, we need to give them the quietest room possible or keep them close to us so that we can reassure them. It can also be helpful to provide access to a place to retreat to, like a box, a bed, or a closet where they can feel safe and protected if they want to hide.
However, avoiding leaving our pets alone during fireworks may be best. Staying close to our good friends enables us to provide love, reassurance, and distraction. On the other hand, punishing or scolding them for being afraid may worsen their anxiety.
Giving them access to water, toys, and treats can help. So, can soothing music or white noise mask the frightening sound of fireworks? Calming products such as pheromones, aromatherapy, or supplements may also help reduce anxiety.
If we must leave our pets outside, we must ensure they are in an enclosed area they cannot escape. And if we take them on a fast food run or out to enjoy the festivities, they should be leashed or in their favorite pet carrier.
Other helpful tactics are to tire our pets out with long walks or play sessions before noisy fireworks begin. Acclimatizing our pets to loud noises may help them learn not to be frightened. Start by playing recorded explosions at low volume and gradually increasing sound levels over time to acclimate them to noisy environments.
Over-the-counter CBD anxiety medications can help pets stay calm and relaxed during stressful events. If fireworks anxiety is severe, consulting a veterinarian can help immensely. The vet may prescribe medication or recommend behavioral therapy to help a much-loved pet cope.
Call Your Veterinarian
At Live Oak Animal Hospital, our team of experienced vets understands how sensitive your pets can be during this time of year. If your furry friend needs assistance, call us or go to liveoaklubbock.com.
