Not everyone's a big fan of Bonfire Night. The RSPCA reported during 2023's firework season that 67% percent of pet animals. So, as we enter the season of flashes and bangs, here are our tips for keeping your pet happy and safe when it comes to fireworks and bonfire night.

The Dangers of Fireworks and Bonfire Night with Pets

You always need to take care of your pets around fireworks and bonfires, no matter how big or small your furry friend is. Everypaw Vet, Dr Anna Foreman has some handy hints for us to follow.

• Cats who are allowed access to the outdoors, or even small pets like rabbits and guineapigs who are escape artists, may seek shelter in an unlit bonfire so make sure to triple check them before lighting.
• Animals can become spooked by loud noises or fire and run away/get lost – particularly with dogs and small pets who are not used to being in their surrounding territory by themselves.
• Even if animals are kept indoors during firework displays, most will become very stressed by the noise of fireworks. This is particularly the case with dogs who already suffer with anxiety.
• There is always a risk of burns with the use of fireworks and other hand-held Catherine wheels or sparklers – animals should be kept well clear of any pyrotechnics. If your animal sustains a burn, apply a cold compress to the area and seek advice from your vet immediately. Burn wounds in animals, like in humans, can be very serious.
• Often food is served at bonfires or firework displays - Animals, particularly dogs who are scavengers, are prone to eating things they shouldn’t when given the opportunity! At BBQs, corn on the cobs and skewered meats pose significant foreign body risks and fatty foods pose a risk to those prone to suffering from pancreatitis.

A Pet's-Eye View of Firework Night

When a rocket goes off, cats and dogs aren't programmed to stand and admire it. To them, a sudden bang and a loud flash means danger. Their natural instincts kick in, which usually means trying to get as far away as possible.

An anxious pet can also behave unpredictably. So, no matter how laid back they are most of the time, there's the added risk of accidentally hurting themselves - or even turning on those around them.

When it comes to bonfire night parties in your own home, always think about what's happening from your pet's point of view! The house is suddenly full of strangers, someone's turned up the volume, and there are some very worrying fire-related things happening outside. It's no wonder our buddies get anxious!

Signs Your Pet is Anxious

Being in-tune with your pet’s anxiety, especially their low-level anxiety will help, as you’ll be able to look after your pet before it escalates. Dr Anna says you should look out for “early signs of anxiety in dogs include yawning, licking their nose/lips, turning their head or whole body away, having their ears back and creeping low to the floor if they are distressed. They may also hide away in an enclosed or covered space such as under the bed.

“As well as signs of anxiety, these are also early signs of aggression and if a dog is not handled correctly when showing these signs, they may turn aggressive and growl, snap, or even bite. Ultimately an anxious animal can be unpredictable - some freeze, some run, some hide away, and some can become aggressive, it depends on what their ‘flight or fight’ response is telling them.”

“Cats are like dogs in that they may freeze, run or become aggressive. Cat bites and scratches can be as serious as those sustained from dogs. Small animals like rabbits and guinea pigs tend to freeze or run when anxious as they do not have the capacity to fight effectively. They may be found hunched in one spot with their eyes closed, or equally may be trying to escape out of their enclosure in a panic. There is significant risk of injury in the latter situation.”

Thankfully though, with a little planning, it's possible to get through the celebrations, while making sure our cats, dogs, rabbits and all our furry little friends stay in their comfort zone.

Dr Anna Foreman’s Do’s and Don’ts for Pets On Fireworks or Bonfire Night

To help prepare your pet for the festivities, it’s good to start early. Dr Anna says, “When the celebrations begin, try enticing your buddy into their den using their favourite toys. If they're busy with something they enjoy, it's more likely that their mind will be taken off what's happening outside.” To help you even more, Dr Anna has prepared a handy Do’s and Don’ts list to look after your pet.

• DO provide them with a hidey-hole where they can take cover over the firework season – for small furries this may be a padded nesting box, and for dogs and cats this may be a covered crate or enclosed bed.
• DON’T let an animal get distressed in the first place – prevention is by far the best, through proper preparation!
• DON’T ignore low level stress and allow it to progress to high level stress.
• DON’T risk your own safety if your animal is showing high levels of stress immediately (skipping the warning signs and progressing to growling, snapping or biting) it is imperative that you are in contact with a canine behaviourist to help to address this behaviour. Animals who exhibit this behaviour can be a risk not only to their owner but also family members, other animals and other strangers.
• DON’T interfere with your animal in their safe space if they are hiding away – they may become territorial due to fear and show signs of aggression.
• DO update their microchip details - animals who run from loud noises have more of a risk of becoming lost – for this reason it is also important to make sure their microchip details are kept up to date regarding address and contact telephone number.
• DO keep pets indoors during firework displays and bonfires.
• DO consult with your vet over pheromonal, nutraceutical or medical treatment for your animal during the firework period. Adaptil or Feliway are great in animals that exhibit a low level of stress, however animals who become highly stressed may need prescription medication to get them through the period.
• DO put music on to cover up the noise of fireworks, ideally classical or smooth/quiet audio, or even an audiobook or podcast, is best.
• DO prepare your animal by playing desensitisation firework soundtracks before firework season to get them used to the associated noises in a controlled space. The Dogs Trust can be contacted for these audio tracks.

“Most methods have some effect on anxiety in most animals, however it very much depends on the individual and how stressed/anxious they are. For example, an animal exhibiting low level stress will be more likely to be calmed through the use of nutraceuticals, however those exhibiting high level stress may require prescription medication, with nutraceuticals being ineffective due to the severity of signs.”

Planning a Bonfire Party? Keeping Your Pets in Mind

If your pets are at home, it's still possible to have a gathering for bonfire night, just so long as you make sure they are taken care of beforehand.

For some cats and dogs, it's not just the fireworks that spook them out, but also the fact that the home is suddenly so busy! If it's normally just you and your dog mooching around the house together, some pre-party socialisation might help them get used to having people around. Invite a couple of people to come round ahead of the party, so they're familiar with having other people on 'their' patch.

Some dogs love being the centre of attention - and they'll want to be the heart and soul of the party. But just be careful that your buddy doesn't overdo it, by eating things they shouldn't or getting under the feet of guests where there's a risk of getting stepped on!

With bonfire parties, there's usually a lot of coming and going between the house and the garden. If you're busy hosting, it can be hard to keep track of where your pet has wandered off to! If you are throwing a party, make sure your cat and dog have somewhere they can retreat to. And if you have outdoor rabbits, moving their hutch into a shed or garage can help keep them out of harm’s way.

Dr Anna has this advice, “Animals who run from loud noises have more of a risk of becoming lost – for this reason it is also important to make sure their microchip details are kept up to date regarding address and contact telephone number.”

“I would encourage anybody considering having a private firework display in their garden to watch one on television, or visit a public organised display. It is these sorts of events that cause the most distress in animals as they are taking place in residential areas within a small distance of other houses and their pets. Organised displays tend to be in the middle of fields or other outdoor spaces, well away from residential properties. I would also encourage these larger organised displays to consider the use of silent or quiet fireworks, as it is the noise of the fireworks that causes the most distress and is often hard to shelter animals from.”

Watch Out After the Event

For any dog, used sparklers, sticks, packaging and other debris might look tasty. If swallowed though, this is the type of stuff that can easily cause internal injury. So just be aware of this; clear the garden of debris after the party and be extra vigilant on your post-Bonfire Night walks to ensure they don't chew on anything they shouldn't.

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