Fear of fireworks and loud noise: how to calm your dog and cat

Fireworks, thunder and sudden loud sounds frighten many dogs and cats. Trembling, hiding, heavy panting, barking or trying to bolt are the most common reactions. This is not the animal "misbehaving"; it is a natural response to a sound it cannot make sense of. What follows is a general framework, and the vet who knows your animal can assess the situation better. For the wider topics of living with an animal at home, see this article.

Prepare a safe space

Choose the inner room where the noise reaches least, and close the curtains and shutters; not seeing the flashes also lowers tension. Move the animal's own bed, a favourite blanket or a corner it can hide in into that room; many animals want to get into an enclosed, dark spot, so let them. To mask the sound from outside, turning on the television, calm music or a steady background noise such as a fan helps. Setting this up before the noise starts is far more effective than trying to build it once the panic has begun.

Take the risk of escape seriously

• Close doors and windows. A panicking animal can bolt through an open door, a balcony or a garden gate. This is one of the most common reasons animals go missing.
• Keep the collar, tag and microchip details up to date. If the dog has to go out, take it on a lead. We explain why the microchip record matters in this article; if it runs off, the chip decides the chance of being found.
• Know in advance what to do if it escapes. The first hours matter with a frightened animal that goes missing; you can find the steps in our article on a lost pet.
• Stay calm yourself. Do not force the animal into your arms to soothe it, do not punish it, and do not reinforce the fear with an overblown show of pity. A normal, calm manner is best; for most animals your simply being there is reassurance enough.

When should you call the vet?

If the fear turns into severe panic every time, self-injury, prolonged trembling and panting or attempts to escape, it is not something to take lightly. For some animals behaviour work or a sedative given before the noise can help, but a sedative is used only on a vet's prescription; do not give human medication or another animal's medication on your own initiative. We have gathered which situations count as urgent and when to go to the clinic in our article on emergencies; you can reach clinics in your area through the directory.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Every decision, including sedatives and behaviour treatment, belongs to the vet who examines the animal.