Men help pets through New Year’s Eve

Awareness around pets’ firework anxiety is increasing. In addition to the initial question, the survey also examined to what extent pet owners are actively addressing firework anxiety in animals. With proper preparation, dogs, cats and horses can also enjoy a pleasant New Year’s Eve. However, many people are still unsure about how, when and with what tools to support their pets on 31 December.

Fireworks should be banned. Not necessarily for our own sake, but especially for the many pets that are highly sensitive to stress. At least, that’s the opinion shared by a large group of pet owners. By banning fireworks or limiting them to designated central areas, pets would experience a significantly less stressful New Year. As it stands, many pets according to their owners have a very frightening night. The survey also asked whether pet owners are aware that various tools are available, and whether they recognise the stress symptoms associated with firework anxiety.

Most owners are aware but not all. The research shows that the majority of pet owners are aware that their animals may experience stress due to the bangs and flashes of fireworks. Interestingly, around 23% of the surveyed owners are not aware of firework anxiety in pets. This group is also unfamiliar with the tools available to help combat this problem.

Among all pet owners who are aware of firework anxiety in animals, the majority (67%) take active steps to prepare their pets for New Year’s Eve. But how exactly do they do this? The most frequently mentioned approaches are:

• Staying at home and turning up the radio or TV
  By increasing the volume of the radio or television, the pet’s attention is diverted away from the fireworks.
• Remaining calm themselves. Owners believe that by staying calm themselves, their pets will remain calm as well.
• Using special medication, homeopathic remedies or other calming aids Examples include Feliway, Bach, Adaptil, and the Thundershirt.
• Proper preparation/training with firework sounds Respondents noted that by training pets from a young age with firework sounds (e.g. using a firework CD), the animals become gradually accustomed to the noises.

Some respondents said they go on holiday to a peaceful location during New Year’s, where there is little to no firework activity. An unusual but popular solution. One striking response that came up multiple times was giving the dog a small glass of “advocaat” (a Dutch egg-based liqueur) before midnight. According to these owners, their dogs become more relaxed as a result.

So, what is the best solution?

Advice from Vetsend:

For now, fireworks will likely remain part of New Year’s Eve. To help your pet cope better, here are a few tips:

• Nutritional supplements and medication. There are various supplements available that can help keep your pet calm. These can be found at online specialists such as Vetsend. If these do not work, consider making an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss appropriate medication.
• Calming shirts. There are several types of “shirts” on the market for dogs and cats that provide a sense of safety and calm. A well-known example is the Thundershirt.
• Early training. Start training at an early age or a few months before New Year’s Eve. By regularly playing a firework CD, your pet can get used to the loud, unexpected sounds.

Shop products for firework anxiety:

• Fireworks-anxiety-dog
• Fireworks-anxiety-cat