by Stella Coles

Created on: October 24, 2009   Last Updated: October 29, 2009

Is your dog afraid of fireworks? Do you dread the season coming round again? It's no wonder that animals are frightened. The noise from fireworks is loud and inconsistent. One minute there's one or two loud bangs, then silence, and then three or four loud bangs. There could be crackles from one direction and then rapid bangs from somewhere else. It's understandable that this will confuse and frighten our pets. You must be wondering if there's anything that will help to calm them.

Yes there are things you can do to help your dog cope with the noise of fireworks. It wouldn't be so bad if they were confined to only certain nights of the year, but besides Guy Fawkes Night and New Years Eve, lots of special occasions now seem to call for the use of thunderous loud cracks and bangs. I know they're very pretty, and children love them but our pets certainly don't and neither do wild animals or farm animals.

Wouldn't it be great if they took away all the noise? My dog gets really anxious. He won't rest, but he wants to bark all the time. He wants to go outside and bark and show them that they're not coming anywhere near his house but I won't let him. He gets bold and brave, but a lot of dogs are really scared, and I know of people with elderly dogs who have heart problems and they are always scared that one more firework night is going to be the end for their pets. There are things you can try though to make your pet more at ease.

First of all, your vet will have advice and possible leaflets with tips on what you can do, and he'll also have something to act as a kind of sedative. I remember one year buying a natural remedy for dogs which was to have a calming effect, but Toby was so wound - up, it didn't really have a good effect on him, but it quite possibly would on another dog. Anything's worth a try.

Always keep you dog indoors and close the curtains. Have the TV or radio switched on so the noise of the fireworks isn't so distinguishable. Some people make up a cosy bed for their pets in a place where they feel safe (like maybe under the stairs) with their blanket and some soothing music on a tape.

One type of treatment is desensitization. Really, it's about gradually exposing your dog to the very noises which are scaring him and to actually convince him that they are non-threatening. Very much like treating someone who has a phobia, to gradually become used to and less scared by, the very thing which is scaring him.

Buy a tape that has a recording of fireworks.

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