WITH the season of festivities fast approaching, there are several occasions including Diwali on October 20 and New Year’s Eve, where people will be celebrating with fireworks.

Also read: Fireworks and fines – Metro shares tips to celebrate responsibly

How to keep your pet calm

As pet owners know, animals often have more sensitive hearing than we do. Make sure your animals are in a secure location indoors, with either the radio or television on while festivities are taking place.

Amanzimtoti SPCA’s Michelle Hannan provided a handy list of ways to keep your pet calm.

Provide comfort and distraction

If you can, stay with your pet and provide comfort during the fireworks. Your presence alone can be very reassuring. Engage them with their favourite toys or activities to distract them from the noise outside. Puzzle toys filled with treats can be particularly effective in keeping their minds occupied.

Maintain a calm demeanour

Pets often pick up on their owners’ emotions, so it’s important to remain calm and composed. If you are anxious, your pet may become more stressed. Speak to them in a soothing voice and avoid any sudden movements that could startle them further.

Plan ahead for potty breaks

Ensure your pet has ample opportunity to relieve themselves before the fireworks begin. This reduces the need to take them outside during the event, which can be a stressful experience for them.

Also read: It’s fireworks season – how to keep your pets safe

Exercise them during the day

Another way to calm your pets down is tiring them out during the day, which can help them relax more easily once the noise begins. Enjoy a long walk, hike, or some playtime in the yard before the sparks begin to fly.

How to protect their ears

Dogs, most notably, are known to suffer irreversible hearing loss caused by proximity to the noise caused by fireworks.

You can prevent hearing loss by taking the following preventative measures:

• Make your home as soundproof as possible. Keep doors and windows closed and draw the curtains. Leave the lights on indoors and play music or have the TV on to drown out the sound of the fireworks.
• If your dog will stand it, you can try putting cotton wool in their ears to protect them from the noise, but do not push it in too far. There are also several types of ear protectors on the market you can buy for your dog, ranging from specially designed earmuffs to a snood, a material scarf that goes over your dog’s head and ears. You may have to get your dog used to wearing ear protectors before a fireworks event takes place.

Also read: Pet owners urged to keep animals inside during fireworks

Amanzimtoti SPCA advises

Animals can become easily stressed, hurt or even kill themselves trying to get away from noise they cannot understand. According to Amanzimtoti SPCA, during Diwali or New Year’s Eve, many animals run away and get lost when left outside unsupervised.

You are advised to make sure your animals have visible tags with your contact information on them or their collars, or that they are microchipped.

If you are planning on going away on one of these festive occasions please make sure you have someone responsible at home taking care of your animals or as a last resort board your animals. You can phone the SPCA Amanzimtoti on 031 904 2424 for more information on boarding.

“Many animals have been harmed when they get out as they have been hit and often killed by cars on busy roads. Calming tablets can be bought in advance at vets and SPCAs to help animals who get anxious when there are loud noises. Calming medicines, especially natural ones, should be started a good few days before the event,” said Hannan.

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