theBonfire night can frighten a lot of animals, such as your pets and wildlife. It can be a scary time for all animals. When they hear the fireworks, there hearing is more sensitive than ours. They don't know its going to happen and when it does, pets are terrified. They don't understand what it is and that scares them! The fear from the unknown causes them to want to run, hide, freeze or shake constantly. They are in a panic, pacing up and down, diving to hide behind your sofa, running every time they hear a Bang! Or some times they will hide and not come out, even if you offer there favorite foods. They are so stressed they don't want to eat or they will be sick or have a loose stool. When cats and dogs are stressed there paws can sweat, they pant, cats purr, dogs shake, both yawn often, licking themselves and sometimes the owner. Clinging to the owner and wanting constant attention. Pawing owner and jumping on them, the pet is unable to relax. Some pets when hiding are reluctant to come out and can get aggressive when owner tries to get them out! Dose any of this sound familiar to you?
So how can we prevent these behaviors? How can we make them feel safe and less stressed? Well to prevent it is a start, but its not that easy! For a pet that has never been exposed! The best time for a cat or dog to be introduced to these sounds is when they are in there early socialization phase. There early socialization period is when there still with mum, litter mates and breeder until for cats 9 weeks and dogs 16 weeks or less depending on breed. During the socialization period is the best time to introduce this sound. Not by letting off fireworks! All you need to do is play the sound recording of fire works on a cd or tv. Start by playing it on a low volume, while playing with kittens or puppies, feeding them or grooming them. Do this little and often, then slowly increase the volume. When they reach there fear stage hopefully they will be used to the sounds, feeling calm or confident. But for those pets who have already endured the terror of fireworks there is still help out there for owners to be able to ease pets stress. There are plenty of pet behaviorists in your area that can help, myself included. You can purchase Pet remedy for all pets, Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs, at your local pets store. They can ease stress for your pet coming up to and after bonfire night. Make sure the diffusers are near where the pet is and not by a window or door. To prepare pet before it all goes off with a bang! Make a den with pet carrier or crate, put a blanket over it. If you don't have that, then make a den out of a big cardboard box, add plush blankets in and on it. Add a t-shirt with your scent on for comfort and pets teddies for cuddling into. Make sure the dens near you, as pets like to see their owners. You can have a radio on in the background in another room. Turn the tele up to drown out the noise out side, make sure windows are shut. Make sure dogs are walked earlier and in before dark! Make sure cat has a litter tray give cat feeding toys and extra play during the day. Make sure cat is in for the night before dark. Hopefully these tips will help ease your pets stress. |
AuthorAngel Morgan Feline and Canine Behaviorist. ArchivesCategories |