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Whether your pet’s into Mika or Madonna, listening to their favourite music could be one of the best ways to calm their nerves on Bonfire Night, says leading veterinary charity, PDSA.

The recommendation is one of Ten Top Tips PDSA has issued to help keep cats, dogs, and other companion animals, safe and calm when fireworks are lighting up the night skies.

“Sadly, hundreds of pets are injured by fireworks every year and thousands more are terrified,” says PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury.

“Noise, smoke, embers and sparks are all extremely hazardous and can cause real distress to pets. The loud bangs can shock a pet into running away, leaving it disorientated, stressed, or at worst injured and completely lost.”

“Many pets have incredibly sensitive hearing, so what we might think is a small sound, may seem far worse to them. The flashes and bangs cause pets real distress, so it’s really important to make your pet feel safe and comfortable.”

”I’ve seen pets with horrendous injuries caused by bonfires and fireworks.  I remember a rabbit being rushed to me with severe burns caused by a simple spark from a bonfire setting light to the hutch.”

PDSA’s Top Tips are included in a free leaflet, Fireworks and Pet Safety, which PDSA is giving away free to pet owners. The tips include:

PDSA’ Ten Top Tips For Dealing with Fireworks and Pets
• Never take your pet to a firework display!
• Keep pets indoors at night and close all windows, doors, curtains and cat flaps
• Ignore the noises yourself as pets will pick up on your fear, which can in turn add to theirs.
• Have your pet microchipped so you can be easily re-united should it run away.
• Don’t shout or punish your pet for fearful behaviour as this will reinforce that something is wrong.
• It may help to put some music on, preferably something with repetitive drumbeats and make sure there are places a pet can hide as this is often a comfort to them.  Make a den by draping a blanket over a table so your dog or cat can feel secure.
• Make sure your pet is in a safe environment so that it does not bolt or escape if frightened by a loud noise.
• Don’t leave your pet alone when fireworks are going off.
• Try to get pets accustomed to loud noises in advance. There are recordings of firework sounds that you can buy. Natural pheromone sprays that give off comforting scents can sometimes help too.
• If you are having your own bonfire night celebrations, always check beneath the bonfire just before you light it to make sure there are no cats or hedgehogs hiding under it.

Case study:
Last November, Kevin Bindley from Leicester took two-year-old crossbreed dog Choccy for a stroll – at a time when he thought it would be fairly quiet and light. He says that although Choccy is generally confident and playful, she also has a sensitive side, and the sudden blast from a nearby firework made her slip her lead and flee in terror. Kevin, aged 51, explains: “I immediately ran after her, but despite a thorough search, she was nowhere to be found.”

There was no news of Choccy for two days. She was eventually found wandering the streets by one of Kevin’s neighbours. But the reunion wasn’t as joyous as it should have been. Poor Choccy could barely walk; there were two deep gashes across her front legs and one of her hind paws was also severely damaged and bleeding heavily.

Kevin immediately rushed Choccy to Leicester PDSA PetAid hospital where the vets cleaned and bandaged her wounds. She was also given antibiotics and pain relief.

Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Richard Ewers, says: “Choccy was in a very bad way and there was a very real chance she would lose one of her hind legs.  She was sensitive and nervous around strangers, but our reassurances put her at ease and she soon became a model patient throughout her ongoing treatment for her injuries.

“Pets distressed by fireworks often look for somewhere to hide, so this may have been Choccy’s intention when she ran away. The cause of her injuries is a real mystery - it looks like she got tangled in something like a wire fence.”

As the fireworks season approaches yet again, Keith wanted to share Choccy’s story to help encourage other owners to take extra care.

“This year I’ll make sure Choccy feels as safe and comfortable as possible,” says Kevin. “We certainly won’t be going out walking when there’s even a remote chance of her getting hurt or frightened.”

The PDSA ‘Fireworks and Pet Safety’ leaflet is one of a range of responsible pet care leaflets from PDSA. The leaflets also include topics such as Vaccination, Identification, Dental Care and Neutering and are available from PDSA PetAid hospitals and PDSA charity shops UK-wide, online at www.pdsa.org.uk or by calling freephone 0800 917 2509.

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