Firework fear: The blog all pets want you to read
Is fireworks season far from a fear-free time in your household? Does every bang, pop and fizz send your pet into a frenzy? If so, we bet you also wince at each sound and flash because you know what it does to your fur family. The trouble with firework-fear, is that the problem doesn’t always end once the acute, commonly severe, reaction has taken place. The effects of the ordeal can significantly impact a pet in the long-term too, often for life.
Worryingly, as many as 45% of dogs1 exhibit firework fear behaviours. The extent of the phenomenon in the feline population is less well understood, possibly owing to how complex cat behaviour can be. Cats, by nature, tend to be extremely stoic; their tendency to hide away during stressful periods might mean that their fear goes unnoticed, compared to dogs, whose pacing, barking, panting etc, are more obvious indicators. What one study did tell us, is that 6% of dogs AND cats sustain physical injuries on fireworks night3, so we know it affects them both. These injuries can vary greatly, with panicked running and jumping leading to anything from bruises to ligament rupture, and escapes potentially resulting in road traffic accidents.
It is well documented that sudden, unexpected loud noises pose more of a threat to the mental wellbeing of all animals, compared to sustained, background noise. For the equestrians out there, it’s interesting to consider that one study found 79% of horses to be afraid of fireworks2. Protecting such sizeable creatures in their moment of fear can pose some especially tricky challenges. In addition, firework debris can be devastating to horses, farm animals and wildlife.
Short term effects
Of course, in order to help a pet, it is useful to know when they are experiencing firework fear. In dogs, signs range from mild pacing, a worried expression and light shaking, right up to debilitating seizure-like episodes, where they quiver on the floor, unable to function. Destruction of their environment, urinating/defecating, barking, hypersalivating and a racing heart rate are also indicators. It is probably best to assume that anything out of the ordinary on these evenings suggests fear.
A cat’s usual go-to is to hide. A racing heart rate, inappropriate toileting, and erratic behaviour might also ensue. You might not know that cats can, and do, ‘pant’, and it’s something you might see with acute stress. We tend to call it ‘open mouth breathing’ in veterinary practice, and it is a strong indicator that either a cat is terrified or experiencing breathing difficulty.
The physiology of stress is an interesting one. In response to a stressor, various processes ready the body for action. Dilated pupils for better vision, a surge in cortisol for better use of glucose by the muscles, elimination of urine – all of this can lead to a pet going into overdrive, and even escaping the home. Another short-term danger of firework fear is the risk of injury from straying. Frenzied forays out and about can see pets tangled in fences and even hit by cars. This is why keeping pets secure at this time is so important.
Long term effects
Ever notice how pets seemingly take longer to learn new, positive associations than they do forgetting negative experiences? It is no different with firework fear. Pets tend to generalise the fear of fireworks into a fear of loud noises and scary flashes overall. And this infiltrates their life and wellbeing in a big way. Consider that thunder, shooting, noisy children, loud music, road noise, and even dropping a pan on the kitchen floor all share similar characteristics of fireworks in terms of sound, unpredictability, and volume. It is easy to understand how the world, in general, can become a scary place. What’s more, there can be a hyper-sensitisation of fear – each time the stressor is experienced, the fear becomes worse. Long term effects of stress can impact the gastrointestinal tract, the appetite and among other things, can even immunocompromise a pet4.
There’s hope for all
Fireworks season is nearly upon us. Fireworks desensitisation can generally not be achieved within a short space of time. So, having some tips on helping a pet in the moment can be really useful. Please see our blog on this matter by clicking here https://chalklandvets.co.uk/2021/11/30/helping-your-pet-cope-with-fireworks-season/
Thinking long term
We alluded above to the fact that intermittent loud noises tend to exert a greater negative effect on animals compared to background noise. This is precisely the principle upon which many desensitisation programmes are based. Through the use of pre-recorded sounds, recognised as common stress triggers for pets, it is possible to lessen, or even totally remove, firework fear for life.
Cats and dogs hear far better than we humans do, therefore the scary sounds are initially played at very low volumes. A steady increase in volume in a controlled and planned manner then follows, all the while bearing in mind the individuals’ response and tailoring the process to them. For more information on this process, and to discuss other ways you can help your pet live a calmer, happier life, why not speak to our behaviourist, Jocelyn? We are extremely lucky to have Jocelyn as part of our team, since her interest in animal behaviour lead to her becoming a chartered animal behaviourist. As such, she can help pets with a range of behavioural issues, including generalised anxiety and more specifically, fireworks fear. Please read more about Jocelyn here https://chalklandvets.co.uk/about-chalkland-vets/meet-the-team/ .
Helping a pet to get through their firework fear can be highly complex and, in severe cases, is best done with the help of an animal behaviourist. Having learned about the mental and physical effects of anxiety on pets, it is easy to see how a fearful pet would thank you for getting in touch with Jocelyn for some advice!
References:
1. Blackwell, E., Casey, R., & Bradshaw, J. (2005). Firework Fears and Phobias in the Domestic Dog. Scientific Report for the RSPCA, University of Bristol, UK.
2. Gronqvist, G, Rogers, C. & Gee, E. (2016). The Management of Horses during Fireworks in New Zealand. Animals 6(20)
3. Dale, A.R., Walker, J.K., Farnworth, M.J., Morrissey, S.V., & Waran. N.K. (2010). A survey of owners’ perceptions of fear of fireworks in a sample of dogs and cats in New Zealand. New Zealand Veterinary Journal 58(6), 286-291.
4. https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/how-we-help/professionals/vet-clinics/acute-chronic-stress-response
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