Noise can hurt your animals

But for an animal it is absolute torture.

Debbie Miller from the Springs SPCA says animals’ ears are much more sensitive to loud noises than human ears, causing a blind panic which can lead to trauma, injuries and even death.

No-one can prevent fireworks from being lit and let’s face it, very few actually want to, but you can prevent your animal from going insane.

“If you are at home when fireworks go off, bring your animals inside, close all the windows and doors and play loud music,” says Miller.

This muffles the sound of the loud bangs of the fireworks and keeps your pet relatively calm.

If your animal is highly sensitive to noise, take it to a vet and get a sedative and keep it in a confined space.

The SPCA will collect any stray animal if they get a call, if they are injured in any way, they will be taken for immediate vet care.

“We ask that if a member of the community comes across a stray during fireworks to please keep them in their yard until the SPCA comes to collect them,” says Miller.

All stray animals will go into the pound where they will wait to be claimed.

There is a cost levied to the owner for the period that the animal was in the pound.

Dr Christo van Niekerk, a local veterinarian, advises clients to see their veterinarian with their animals well in advance of days where fireworks are used, especially if there are tendencies of being affected by noise.

“During these visits and examinations of animals, a suitable drug can be prescribed or dispensed by the vet,” says Dr van Niekerk.

Tranquilisers come in tablet, capsule and injectable form, but the injectable tranquilisers can only be administered by a veterinarian or under their direct supervision.