20/10/2025
Fireworks - what can we do now? 🎆🐾
With firework season a couple of weeks away, here's a reminder of our advice on how to help prepare our furry friends as much as possible:
🔶 Start "safe haven" training now!
- A safe haven is a quiet place where your pet can rest and sleep - i.e. a bedroom, utility room, or a covered crate (pick somewhere in the house where they are least likely to be able to hear or see the fireworks) ❤
- Puzzle feeders are your friend! Feed your pet in their safe haven with a puzzle feeder (see below for inspiration) 😋
🐱 Puzzle feeder ideas for cats: https://icatcare.org/articles/puzzle-feeders-for-your-cat
🐶 Puzzle feeder ideas for dogs: https://www.battersea.org.uk/pet-advice/dog-advice/brain-games-dogs
- Make sure all your pets needs are met before doing a safe haven training session, making sure they've been to the toilet, had some exercise and had some social interaction, so that all that's left to do is for them to eat and sleep 😴
- Very gradually build up the amount of time your pet spends in their safe haven, making sure you open the door to let them out before they show any signs that they want to get out 🐾
- Blackout curtains can be really good for blocking out the light from fireworks, and white noise machines can be helpful to muffle the noises. It's important that you train your pet with all of this in place first, and don't introduce anything for the first time on the night of the fireworks, in case it makes them more worried ❤️
- If you would like more in depth advice on how to "safe haven" train your pet, ask a member of our friendly reception team who will happily give you a leaflet put together by one of our nurses 😊
🔶 Make use of the safe haven when fireworks are expected 🎆
- Take your dog for a walk well before the sun goes down 🐕
- Set up the safe haven and prepare the puzzle feeders 😋
- Take your pet to their safe haven before the fireworks have started 🐾
- Stay with your pet if you think that would help them feel more comfortable ❤️
🔶 Ask your vet about medication now to ensure you have enough time to do a trial dose (you will still need to do "safe haven" training with your pet, even if they are given medication!)
🔶 There is not enough time to desensitise your pet to the sounds of fireworks, so start this in February in preparation for next year (we will be posting about this in more detail in the new year)
