Remember remember the 5th of November — we no longer need a nursery rhyme to fix the date in our minds. Indeed, Halloween and Bonfire Night role into one, with 2 weeks of celebrations and parties taking place in many towns and villages. A single night of fireworks has become a fortnight, loved by many but dreaded by people like me with dogs that are terrified! And, since surveys suggest that as many as 73% of the pet population could be affected, I'm certainly not alone.
I expect many of you have already created your practice displays with advice for pet owners, but here is some information you may still find useful:
- Remind pet owners to close all curtains and block off any area where bright flashes can be seen
- Keeping the television and/or radio on may help to block out noise
- Create a safe space where animals can control their level of exposure and emotional state — this could mean, for example, placing the animal's usual bed under a table with a duvet over the top. This safe space should be created at least 2 weeks prior to the noisy event! Cats may benefit from access to a high shelf in, for example, an airing cupboard
- Move rabbits and small furries into darkened rooms with good sound proofing — outdoor rabbits could be placed in outhouses or garages and covered with old blankets or duvets or surrounded by hay bales
- For cats and dogs, the appropriate pheromones can be used, ideally around the safe area
- An anxiolytic agent can also be prescribed by the veterinary surgeon
- Make sure pets have been walked before the fireworks start and are back safely inside before the parties begin.
It's also a good time to remind clients to ensure that their microchip details are up to date in case a pet bolts — a microchip is only as good as the details held on the database. While microchipping is now compulsory for dogs in the UK, people do sometimes forget to change their details when they move house. It is not compulsory for cats to be microchipped, and a conversation about fireworks could provide a chance to discuss the microchipping of cats with clients and encourage them to microchip their pets. The International Cat Care/ISFM state that ‘the accurate and permanent identification of pet cats is both important and desirable, and has been regarded as an essential component of cats' welfare.’
It is also an important time to think about the hedgehogs — a pile of leaves and branches for burning provides the ideal hibernating place. The once common hedgehog is now under threat from development and habitat loss; in just the last 10 years, hedgehog numbers have fallen by 30%, and there are now thought to be fewer than one million left in the UK. They are disappearing from our countryside as fast as tigers are worldwide! To help prevent hedgehogs and other wildlife from suffering on Bonfire Night, The British Hedgehog Preservation Society advise people to avoid building their bonfire until the day it is going to be lit — this will reduce the chances of hedgehogs taking up residence in the bonfire pile for hiberation. Always make sure you build your bonfire on clear ground (not on top of leaf litter) and don't forget to check your bonfire before lighting it too!