30 September

Keeping your pets and horses safe during fireworks season

Edeline Bourrier Edeline Bourrier

Keeping your pets and horses safe during fireworks season image

Bonfire Night marks the unofficial beginning of the festive season in the UK. This period between early November and New Year’s Eve can be a stressful time for pets, horses and their owners. As bright lights and loud noises fill the winter sky, it is important to help your animals cope with this challenging period.

Let’s take a closer look at the impact fireworks can have on your pets and horses, and how you can ensure their well-being and safety.

Good to know:

Whilst Halloween doesn’t involve fireworks, it can up your pets’ anxiety levels as strangers wearing masks and dressed up knock on your door at nightfall.

Download “No trick or treat poster” now!

1. Why are fireworks a source of stress for pets and horses?

In order to help your cats, dogs and horses cope with fireworks season, it’s important to understand how they are impacted.

Noise: The loud and sudden noises produced by fireworks can startle animals. Most dogs, cats, and horses have sensitive hearing that picks up on more frequencies than humans, thus, making them more susceptible to loud noise levels and the associated discomfort.
Bright lights: The bright flashes tend to impact pets or horses living outdoors as they can be disorientating and frightening for animals.
Unpredictability: The unpredictability of fireworks can lead to high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, as your pets or horses stay on high alert for prolonged periods of time. Keep in mind that cortisol levels can take several days to get back to normal and will spike again as stress triggers re-emerge having a cumulative effect.

2. Tips for pet owners for fireworks season

Create a safe space: create a quiet and comfortable area in your home where your pets can hide during fireworks. This could be a room with their bed, toys, and water, or their crate with a blanket draped over it. Encourage them to use it before the fireworks start so they are comfortable and used to it.
Go for an early walk: try going out during the last hours of daylight as fewer people tend to let fireworks off when it isn’t dark. However, don’t just do this on the day as a sudden change in routine might put your dog on high alert!
Close doors, windows and curtains: this can help reduce the impact of bright lights and muffle the noise.
Provide distractions: offer your pets their favourite toys, treats, or puzzle feeders to keep them occupied and distracted from the fireworks.
Stay calm: pets often pick up on their owner's emotions. Try to remain calm and relaxed to reassure your pets that everything is okay.
Use calming aids: consider using products such as calming sprays, anxiety vests or natural calming supplements.

3. Tips for horse owners for fireworks season

Secure stables and paddocks: ensure that stables are suitably locked and paddocks are securely fenced to prevent horses from escaping. Check that stables, stalls, field shelters, fences and fields are free from potential hazards: branches on the floor, loose feed bowls, wobbly partitions or gates…
Stay with your horse: spending a little bit of time with your horses on fireworks nights can bring them comfort and reassurance.
Ear protection: consider using earplugs or sound-dampening ear covers designed to muffle the sound. Practice in advance to make sure that they don’t cause your horse any additional stress and that you know how to use them safely.
Use calming supplements: some horses may benefit from natural calming supplements or Bach Flower remedies.
Keep the routine consistent: stick to your horse's regular feeding and exercise schedules to avoid any additional source of stress.

A few last pieces of advice… Have a chat with your neighbours and let them know that your pets and horses are affected by fireworks. They may reconsider letting some off or at least let you know when they are planning on doing so.

Finally, make sure that your pets and horses are properly identified and microchipped, with their record up to date. In the event of them escaping, it will make it easier to reunite them with you.

Firework season can be challenging for both pets and horses. Start preparing now to help them be more relaxed during Bonfire Night and New Year Celebrations. Remember that each animal is unique and finding the right strategy for them may take time.