With firework night fast approaching many of us with pets are wondering how best to manage the stress and fear that the whistles and loud bangs of fireworks have on our pets.

Arg Beiyn Veterinary Practice vet Edric Cross says “During the firework period we advise all pets to be kept indoors with curtains drawn and the radio or television put on to try and mask the sounds. Noise aversion therapy can be a useful training device and we stock CDs of firework sounds to enable pets to be pre-accustomed to the noises. These should only be used with proper training advice from our nurses.

“There are several products available that can help alleviate stress in our pets at this time of year. We have some medications that can be put into our pets’ food and some that just rely on a special hormone scent that is taken up by the cat or dog by their sense of smell”

Both types of products contain naturally occurring substances that have little to no harmful side effects and they can be combined according to individual needs.

Edric comments that in previous times they used to prescribe sedative tablets for cats and dogs but it has been shown that although the pets are sleepy and cannot move they still show fear of the noises.”One can only imagine how frightening it would have been to be afraid and yet unable to move. Fortunately the more modern products do not cause sedation but alleviate anxiety much in the way that valium does though it is worth pointing out that none of these products contains a medication like that.”

For anyone wanting more information the nursing team at Arg Beiyn are always willing to give advice.