Cats and dogs hate New Year’s Eve fireworks
Your pet’s ears are sensitive to sound

Loud bangs and pops scare pets and can make a normally well-behaved pet misbehave or run away.

Celebrations can be stress-free if you plan ahead. Consider your pet as you make your plans for December 31st.

Dr Beth Spencer’s #1 tip for NYE is to keep your pet indoors. Have you heard stories of dogs who jump through windows and glass doors in response to fireworks? Keep your dog inside and/or in a protective space on NYE.

7 ways to keep your pets safe while humans celebrate

Once we know how your pet will react to loud sounds, we can focus on a plan to keep your pet calm on December 31st.

1. Talk to your veterinarian. We have great ideas to help, and we may already know your pet and their personality. Your veterinarian may discuss a variety of things, such as anti-anxiety medications, over-the-counter medications, nutraceuticals, training, and more! We can prescribe the best dose of a medication (or a combination of medications). Since this might be a trial and error process, the sooner you start this conversation, the better! Schedule an appointment.
2. Keep them in a safe space. During fireworks or loud gatherings, keep pets inside with collars on, doors locked, and away from windows. Drown out sounds with a sound machine, the television, a fan, or Dog Radio. Keep the room dark for cats.
3. Keeps pets away from fireworks and sparklers if you’re setting them off at home. Dogs’ and cats’ hearing is sensitive. Loud bangs may damage their ears. Also, we don’t want dogs to fetch lit fireworks, which can cause serious burns or death.
4. Consider boarding your pet. Alone in a house, a loud noise can turn a well-behaved dog into a destructive one. They could even become a flight risk! If you are concerned about your pet being home without you, a boarding facility may be the best choice.
5. Use calming pheromones like Adaptil for dogs and Feliway for cats. We sell those on our online pharmacy.
6. Identification: Ensure your pet’s microchip or collar tags are up-to-date so they’re easy to track down in the event they run away.
7. Helpful Products: Consider supportive things such as Thundershirts for a supportive hug and RexSpecs Ear Pro to help with soundproofing. Remember, these will require preparation and training with your dog prior to the time of need.

Fireworks don’t have to be a source of anxiety for pet owners. Follow our tips to ensure your holidays are fun and relaxing.

And as always, we’re here to answer your questions. Call us 24/7.