John Hanley, Vet from the Sandymount Hospital gives some sound advice to John Cavendish about animals and fireworks around Halloween.

Unfortunately events involving fireworks, especially the Halloween period, can be very stressful for dogs and pose a serious risk to their safety. Dogs have much more sensitive hearing than people, so the sounds (and sight) of fireworks can terrify them.

The first step to take with dogs around Halloween is to ensure they are kept indoors. Even a loyal and well-trained dog may run away due to fear of fireworks. They may go missing, are at risk of getting injured or killed on the road, and may show aggression to strangers due to panic. Never take your dog to a fireworks display, and ensure they have a microchip, or a name collar at the very least, in case they do escape.

Even dogs that are kept indoors can become very distressed. They may show signs such as pacing, trembling or panting, and start to become destructive by digging or chewing around doorways or windows in an attempt to escape. If your dog is showing early signs of anxiety, they should be distracted by trying to play with them. Petting or reassuring a frightened dog is not recommended as it may in fact reinforce such frightened behaviour.

Some noise-phobic dogs will attempt to find a hiding place in the house. This can actually be very useful as it will make them feel safer. Praising them and offering them treats in their ‘safe place’ can be very effective, and should mean less destructive behaviour around the home! It may also be useful to have a loud radio or television on in the background to help drown out the noise of fireworks. Taking your dog for a long walk before a fireworks display starts, and then giving him or her a meal, can help them become tired and more relaxed during the fireworks.

It is possible to train your dog to be comfortable with the noise of fireworks by desensitisation, especially from a young age. Desensitisation works by gradually and regularly exposing dogs to the noises that normally frighten them. A tape or CD of such noises can be played to your dog.

Start by attracting your dog’s attention with playful behaviour, and play the noises at a low volume that your dog can hear. Reward calm behaviour with praise and attention, and do this for 20 minutes. Leave the noises playing for a few minutes after you leave the room. It may take a few months of doing this on a daily basis, gradually increasing the volume, in order to achieve desensitisation.

Unfortunately, despite best efforts, some pets will still suffer from a phobia of fireworks. You may need to speak to your vet, who could recommend various products that can be very useful to ease anxiety, or may consider prescribing some calming medication for your dog.