Firework advice for pet owners

Posted : 08-10-2007

As Guy Fawkes' night approaches, a leading pet charity has provided advice for animal owners to ensure that the event is as stress-free for furry friends as it can be.

The Blue Cross has issued advice on how to keep pets unruffled around bonfire night, including keeping all animals indoors when fireworks are expected and ensuring that pets wear collars and are microchipped so that they can be identified should they run away in panic.

Julie Bedford, animal behaviourist at the Blue Cross, stated that the bangs and flashes of fireworks changes the environment a pet is in massively, which is a very unsettling and traumatic experience for them.

"When pets are anxious or distressed it is instinctive for their owners to cuddle and comfort them, but this can stress the animal even more because they will think that their owners are worried too," she added.

She stated that the best thing owners can do is let their pet settle in a safe place and let them calm down.

If animals injure themselves as they panic during fireworks, they may require a veterinary procedure that may prove costly - comprehensive pet insurance may provide a way for owners to worry less about expensive procedures for their furry friends.

Blue Cross recently reported on the success of Take Your Dog to Work Day that took place last month.


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