Tag Archives: behaviour

Horses, The Pet Professionals

Is your horse happy?

Though there’s no such thing as a recipe for equine happiness, there are some basic ingredients that need to be in the mix! These include adequate health care, gentle handling, balanced nutrition, and an environment that allows for quality interactions and all the opportunities required to express their natural behaviour.

Keep reading to learn more about the five domains model of animal welfare and how you can improve your horse’s quality of life!

What are the five domains?

The five domains represent an animals’ five basic welfare needs:

  • Balanced nutrition
  • Preventative and responsive health care
  • Adequate, safe and rich environment
  • Quality behavioural interactions
  • Positive mental state

These are universal to all animal species and were compiled in the 1960s as the five freedoms in response to the livestock production practices at the time.

Over the past 60 years, this concept has evolved alongside our knowledge of animal health, welfare, and behaviour and has since been used to help guide us in caring for animals respectfully!

Nutrition

We are what we eat, and the same is true for horses. A balanced diet is one of the most important pillars of a healthy life, and this involves:

  • A high-quality forage-based diet tailored to the individual horse
  • The correct amount of food and number of meals
  • Clean, fresh water that is always available

Adequate nutrition has an integral part in preventing health problems, such as colic, ulcers and obesity, as well as behavioural issues, as you can stimulate horses’ natural foraging behaviours depending on how you’re providing them with food.

Health care

If your horse is unwell, this will obviously have an impact on their well-being. Conducting a daily health check can be instrumental in seeking veterinary help early. Here are some of the most important aspects to be mindful of:

  • Their demeanour and if they are behaving normally
  • How their body looks (posture, condition, hydration) and feels (temperature, swelling)
  • Any injuries that may be present (making sure to check the mouth and feet)

As for preventative care, vaccinations and parasite treatments are vital for protecting your horse against a range of diseases, and your vet will be happy to arrange a tailored plan for your animal’s specific needs.

Environment

Providing your horse with an adequate and rich environment where they are safe from the elements and predators, and are able to display their natural behaviour is paramount.

Here are some aspects to consider:

  • Is their pasture cared for?
  • Is the horse free to move around?
  • Do they have a comfortable place to rest?
  • Is their access to forage and water adequate?
  • Do they have the opportunity to explore their environment?
  • Can they interact with other horses?
  • Could they benefit from environmental enrichment?

Though general recommendations are great as a starting point, tailoring your horse’s environment to their personality and character can make a world of difference in their happiness, and you’re the best person to know how to do this!

Behavioural interactions

As social animals, horses enjoy the company of other horses and need friends to socialise with.

Though they will be happy just being near other horses, physical contact is very important, too, which is something that naturally happens if they’re allowed to bond.

As for human-horse interactions, it’s key that you have a good understanding of equine behaviour so that you can learn to recognise what your equine friend enjoys doing and provide them with pleasant experiences.

Exploring their environment is another way that horses like spending their time, so make sure they have the opportunity to exercise and move freely.

Mental state

If you do a great job at managing the previous four domains, the result will be a positive mental state, which is what every horse owner is aiming for!

However, sometimes horses can still develop behavioural issues or suffer from high stress despite our best efforts. This may be due to many things, from an undiagnosed illness to a particular need that you didn’t know your horse had that isn’t being met.

These types of problems often take time, patience and the proper professional help to resolve, so don’t hesitate to contact your vet if you are struggling!

Keep an eye on our blog if you’d like to know more about each of the five domains, as we’ll be going into a detailed discussion in upcoming blog posts!

Would you like to know more about horses? Check our Equine Courses:

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Cats, The Pet Professionals

Help your cats during fireworks season!

Fireworks and pets are not a good match! Many of our furry friends are apprehensive or scared of the loud noises during the festive season, and cats are no exception.

Christmas and New Year can be tough periods for cats with these types of phobias, and owners might struggle to help their feline friends feel better.

Keep reading our blog to learn all about the best tips for the holiday season and help ensure a peaceful, stress-free Christmas for you and your pets!

Is fear of fireworks common?

Unfortunately, it’s far more common than not for our cats to be afraid of the loud noises and explosions that seem to happen every other day during the holiday season.

They have extremely sensitive hearing, which makes fireworks not a very pleasant experience for them. As cats thrive on stable routines, this time of the year is already pretty stressful for them as we are often busy preparing parties, decorating our homes and inviting people over.

All of these changes can create increased stress that will compound the panic of unpredictable fireworks, making up for a terrible time of the year for your feline friends.

Can fear of fireworks be dangerous for my cat?

Significant increases in anxiety and stress are not good for your cat’s health! Fireworks season often brings immense distress for pets, and this can show up as:

  • Pacing and increased vocalisations;
  • House-soiling without any other apparent cause;
  • Less appetite;
  • Hiding and refusing to interact;
  • Being more fearful and jumpier;
  • Attempting to escape the house or garden.

To avoid any chances of your pet getting lost or harmed, ensure he or she is safely inside the house well before the noise starts and that the contact information associated with his or her microchip is up to date.

How can I help my cat feel better?

There are a number of things you can try that might help your cat feel better during this difficult time.

The most permanent solution is desensitisation therapy, which will make him or her less reactive towards distressing noises. However, this will take a while to be effective, usually needing several weeks of work with a qualified behaviourist before you can see any results.

In the short term, you can try to:

  1. Create a cosy corner where your cat can hide whenever he or she feels scared;
  2. Plug diffusers with calming pheromones in the rooms that your cat uses the most;
  3. Close the curtains to block out the lights and turn on the TV to drown out the noise;
  4. If your cat is feeling up to it, playing and interacting can be sufficiently distracting, but don’t force him or her to do it;
  5. Act calmly and don’t make a big fuss as your cat is looking to you to understand how serious the situation is.

Despite all the things you can try, this time of the year can still be intensely upsetting for your feline friend, and the problem may need other things like specific medication.

For these cases, your vet can help provide the best solution to ensure Christmas and New Year will go as smoothly as possible, so don’t hesitate to call them if you’re struggling!

 

Would you like to know more about cats? Check our Feline Courses:

Feline courses

 

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Separation anxiety in dogs

Back-to-school blues are not just for people! Did you know that dogs can also feel sad when their owners are no longer in the house?

While many dogs might feel a bit gloomy about having the house all to themselves, some pets will feel it especially acutely, which can tip into significant separation anxiety. Dogs suffering from this might exhibit unwanted behaviours due to distress, which can be challenging to resolve.

Keep reading to know all about separation anxiety and what you can do to help your dog through this difficult time.

What is separation anxiety in dogs?

This common behavioural problem happens when your dog experiences significant anxiety when he or she realises you are about to be separated, for instance, when you or your family leave for work or school.

While many furry friends experience some form of displeasure at seeing you leave, what makes separation anxiety different is the intensity of these feelings of stress.

For pets that are sensitive to anxiety, it can be quite intense and cause a lot of distress, leading to unwanted behaviours when this is triggered. You might start seeing:

  • Excessive barking or howling;
  • Incessant pacing or trembling;
  • Drooling and panting;
  • Toileting in the house;
  • Destructive behaviour such as chewing on furniture or other non-toy objects;
  • Attempting to escape the house to try and find you!

If not handled properly, these behaviours can escalate into intense stress that causes a serious dip in his or her quality of life as well as self-harm, for instance, broken teeth or paw injuries.

What can I do to help?

Like many other behavioural issues, it’s vital that you are very patient with your dog and that you know that it might take some time to help him or her feel more at ease with your absences. While it may be difficult to handle, particularly if your dog suffers from severe separation anxiety, do not yell or punish them for the way they are acting.

For mild cases, you might have a lot of success by keeping routines as stable as possible all year, not making a fuss as you are leaving the house, tiring out your furry friend before leaving, finding nice toys that will entertain him or her during the time you are out so he or she won’t miss you as much. You will have to be consistent with this and patient, but with time and care, your dog will probably feel much better!

For owners that are struggling with a severe case and whose dog is at risk of self-harm or extreme distress, it’s best to consult their vet and probably be referred to a clinical animal behaviourist to help him or her overcome this type of stress.

 

In summary:

  • Some pets might be suffering from a high level of stress when they think you are about to leave;
  • Separation anxiety can manifest as excessive barking, destructive behaviours, attempting to flee or even self-harm!
  • To help your pet, you can try to modify your leaving routines and ensure he or she has enough toys and entertainment to spend the day alone;
  • For tough cases or if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to contact your vet.

Would you like to know more about dogs? Check our Canine Courses:

Canine courses

 

Cats, The Pet Professionals

Hypertension is a silent disease: Keep your cats protected!

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, is a common sign in older cats that can be caused by several important conditions, such as kidney disease or hyperthyroidism.

Unfortunately, high blood pressure can build for a long time without overt signs whilst damaging sensitive organs like the eyes or brain, sometimes permanently.

To avoid this, a blood pressure check is a frequent feature of routine appointments and nurse clinics, especially for older cats. Measuring hypertension in our feline friends is very easy, and the sooner that we catch this problem, the sooner we can treat the underlying cause, which allows us to give your pets the best chance to have long and happy lives!

Keep reading to learn more about high blood pressure in cats and how to help your own pet to avoid this silent and deadly disease.

What is feline hypertension?

Hypertension is when your cat’s blood pressure is persistently above healthy limits, and this situation can compromise several organs if it is not caught and lowered in time!

Most often, hypertension is the consequence of other diseases, such as kidney disease or hyperthyroidism, but it can be something that shows up spontaneously, and we call this primary hypertension. Regardless of the cause for persistently elevated blood pressure, the consequences are the same:

  • Damage to several structures of the eye, such as the retina, which can cause irreversible vision loss over time;
  • Seizures and other neurologic problems can happen as hypertension increases;
  • Changes to the structure and function of the kidneys and the heart, which might already be struggling due to the underlying diseases causing hypertension.

As mentioned above, blood pressure can increase progressively without any external signs, but it will start harming your cat’s internal organs as time passes.

To prevent this from happening, it’s vital for your pets to get their blood pressure measured regularly. When you come in for a routine appointment, your vet might suggest checking your cat’s blood pressure straightaway or they may schedule a specific time to get it done, so that they can be sure that your cat is relaxed and that the readings will be correct.

Because it’s most often secondary to other conditions, it can be also be an important early sign that something else might be wrong and it will help your vet investigate the underlying diseases that might be causing the blood pressure to rise.

Can my cat’s high blood pressure be treated?

Fortunately, feline hypertension can be treated! By using medication to lower blood pressure, it’s possible to help the situation and stop any more internal damage.

However, it will most often require daily treatments and regular blood pressure measurements to ensure that the medication works as it should.

With the proper treatment and monitoring, we can successfully manage high blood pressure in cats, and it might even be possible to reverse some of the related issues.

If you’re struggling to control your cat’s hypertension or haven’t been to a routine appointment in a while, don’t hesitate to talk to your vet!

Keep this in mind:

  • Feline hypertension is common and is likely to show up in middle-aged to elderly cats; 
  • As it is often a consequence of serious underlying diseases like hypertension or kidney disease, bringing you cat for regular routine appointments helps your vet to diagnose any problems sooner rather than later! 
  • It’s vital to treat high blood pressure as it can seriously damage sensitive organs and cause issues such as blindness, seizures or cardiac problems; 
  • If your cat hasn’t had his or her blood pressure measured in a while, don’t forget to schedule an appointment with your vet!

 

Would you like to know more about cats? Check our Feline Courses:

Feline courses

 

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Socialisation and dogs

Did you know that there are over 3 million new pets in UK homes since the beginning of the Covid pandemic?

If you were one of the new pet owners, you might have struggled with proper socialisation. As we were spending more time at home and observing social distancing to help fight the spread of Coronavirus, some pets might not have had the chance to socialise with others.

However, socialisation is a crucial process in puppies’ development, allowing dogs to gain confidence and become comfortable in unexpected situations and interacting with unfamiliar people and animals.

Socialisation in puppies

Ideally, socialisation should begin between 3 and 14 weeks of age, which is when puppies are most responsive to learning from exposure to new experiences and environments.

If puppies are deprived of contact with other people, animals and new situations during this period, they may be at greater risk of developing behaviour issues, such as being fearful or aggressive, as adults.

However, puppies are not fully vaccinated during these first few weeks so it’s very important to ensure that their contact is limited to healthy dogs with up-to-date vaccines and a good temperament. Also, please avoid areas frequented by dogs of unknown vaccination status, such as public parks and other public spaces.

To get your dog to socialise safely during this period, you can ask your vet if they host puppy parties or arrange puppy play dates with your friends’ pets. These interactions should always be supervised to ensure that your dog has a positive experience.

But socialisation should not be limited to meeting and interacting with other pets! It is essential to offer your puppy an enriching environment that exposes them to different stimuli (noises and textures, for example), toys, and includes lots of playtime.

Another important part of socialisation is getting your dog used to being handled. This will help you (and your veterinarian) in the future if your dog needs topical treatments applied, such as ear medication for example, or when they go in for a vet check-up and need a physical examination.

Socialisation throughout life

As your puppy grows older, it’s important to continue to provide them with socialisation opportunities. Continued exposure to unfamiliar situations in controlled environments allows them to grow a tolerance to different social contexts.

And of course, when your dog is fully vaccinated, you can take them to dog parks, the beach, and organise other fun activities that strengthen your bond with your pet.

 

Remember, socialisation is not only essential for your dog’s well-being, but the whole family’s as well. For instance, it can be very stressful and dangerous to walk a dog that never learnt how to interact appropriately with other dogs.

And be mindful that if your dog is too fearful or aggressive, you should always seek help from a qualified professional.

Would you like to know more about dogs? Check our Canine Courses:

Canine courses

 

Cats, The Pet Professionals

Top tips for indoor-only cats

The number of cats that are kept indoors permanently has boomed in recent years as more and more people live in apartments or because owners choose to keep them away from dangerous traffic and potential altercations with stray animals.

Fortunately, cats can be terrific indoor-only pets, and they take to their spaces very well. But there are specific needs that owners need to be aware of so that their cats can lead a fulfilled indoor life.

Read on for the best tips on keeping your indoor feline safe and happy!

Windows – the curious cat’s delight

It’s part of a cat’s nature to observe things from high places, and it’s normal for them to do this, but it puts them at significant risk of falling several stories if they live in an apartment and windows or balcony doors are kept open.

To avoid this, make sure you keep your windows and balcony doors closed if you are not around to supervise your pets. With a little more DIY work, you can install safety screens on windows and leave them open without risk of falls.

Keep vaccines and flea, tick and worm treatments up to date

It’s easy to think that indoor pets do not get diseases or parasites, but unfortunately, you can still find yourself facing a flea infestation or a cat with an infectious disease even though he or she never set a paw outside.

Fleas and ticks will easily jump on people or other pets that go for walks and return to the house. The same happens with infectious diseases, especially if you take your cat to the groomer or boarding kennels.

The best way to handle this is to prevent them! Ensure your cats have all the needed vaccines and boosters and regular parasite treatment to avoid nasty surprises.

Have good enrichment to stave off boredom or stress

Without the stimulation from roaming around (and getting into trouble!), your cat might experience boredom which can lead to stress and, eventually, lowered quality of life and even poor health.

Here are some ways to make your house into a cat-friendly home:

  • Make sure you keep an adequate number of bowls and litterboxes for all of your cats;
  • Have varied toys and playing locations, and make an effort to position them in high places that your cat can perch on;
  • Provide them with vertical territory. If you’re unable to modify your house or apartment, there are plenty of rental friendly towers and toys that won’t require screws or nails;
  • Take the time to play with your furry friend consistently and to interact with them.

Pets who are bored and stressed might be destructive or aggressive, and environmental enrichment goes a long way to prevent these problems.

If you’re not sure what to do to keep your home cat safe and happy, don’t hesitate to talk to your vet about your concerns!

 

Would you like to know more about cats? Check our Feline Courses:

Feline courses

 

 

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Understanding dog behaviour

Understanding our dog’s behaviour can be challenging at times. 

While a wagging tail greeting us when we get home is usually easy to interpret, there are subtle signs in canine communication that we may have difficulty reading.

In this article, we will go over some interesting facts on dog behaviour that can help you understand your dog a little bit better.

Understanding dog behaviour: why is it important?

For a while now, dogs have been titled as man’s best friend, and there’s no denying the strength of the canine-human bond. 

And even though dogs can’t talk, they still find a way to communicate with us through their body language and actions. This is why we need to know what these mean to understand what they’re trying to get across.

But how can we do that?

Body language: a powerful indicator of how your dog is feeling

A wagging tail and relaxed face mean that your dog is happy.

If they turn their backs towards you, it means that they trust you.

If they’re running around, suddenly pause, lower their elbows to the ground and arch their backs, they are inviting you to play.

These are all obvious manifestations of their intentions that, as dog owners, we have no difficulty in recognising.

But do you know what it means when your dog is still but tense, looking away, with their ears flattened and licking their lips? To an inattentive eye, these signs can easily be missed, but these mean that something is making your dog  feel uncomfortable. 

It’s very important to notice these subtle signs, as they can lead to growling or even biting if the situation is not changed.

Normal canine behaviour: what to expect?

What about the way they behave? How can that help us understand what they need?

Dogs are creatures of habit and tend to enjoy having a set routine. This means that they are likely to do the same things at the same time every day.

For instance, if they usually eat first thing in the morning at 6 am, you can expect them always to want to eat at 6 am, even on the weekend. If, however, you want to sleep in, your dog will make sure to let you know it’s time to eat at 6 am regardless.

Dogs are also very sociable animals that enjoy playing and running. This means that providing them with engaging, interactive activities with people and other animals and allowing them the opportunity to exercise are essential in their daily routine.

Exercise and rest needs vary individually, and there may be some trial and error before you figure out your dog’s natural rhythm, but it will be worth it. 

Unwanted dog behaviours and how to avoid them

Being a dog owner means making sure that your dog has the opportunity to express normal canine behaviour. When this doesn’t happen, your dog may start showing  unwanted behaviours.

Dogs who are not adequately exercised, for example, often develop destructive behaviours, such as chewing on furniture whilst you are away.

Other common dog behaviour problems include:

  • Separation anxiety,
  • Aggressiveness,
  • House-soiling,
  • Jumping up to greet you,
  • Excessive barking,
  • Resource guarding. 

To avoid the development of behavioural problems, make sure your dogs have all their needs met and keep them well trained. 

Also, it’s important that you’re aware that some unwanted behaviours may stem from an undiagnosed health condition. If you recognise any changes in your dog’s usual behaviour, don’t hesitate to contact your vet for advice. 

Conditioning your dog’s behaviour through training

Training your dog is another important step to ensure they don’t develop any unwanted behaviours.

Some behaviours, such as digging, urine marking, barking at or chasing moving things, to name a few, are normal in the canine world, even though they might be undesirable to us. 

Training comes in handy in these situations, as it can redirect your dog’s behaviour to something else – something that is more acceptable to us humans.

Obedience training has other benefits as well, as it can be life-saving at times, especially ‘drop it’ and recall commands.

If you want to train your dog, but don’t know where to start, here are three tips that might help:

Use positive reinforcement

Rewarding your dog when he does something that you want will be highly appreciated and will make it more likely that he repeats that behaviour in the future. This is also known as positive reinforcement and works really well if you want your dog to learn something.

Be patient and calm

Training your dog can be challenging, especially at the beginning. Every dog’s learning rhythm is different, and it may take some time for them to learn. To make it easier on your dog, make sure you break down the command into simple steps, and if you feel that you’re losing your patience, take a break or resume on a different day.

Ask for professional help

If you’ve been trying to teach your dog something but don’t seem to be getting anywhere, maybe it’s time to ask for professional help. Make sure you look for a certified professional and always ask your vet for advice in case of odd or aggressive behaviours.

 

How would you describe your relationship with your dog? Would you say that you know them quite well? If you’re reading this, we have a feeling that you would, but there’s always room for improvement. We offer a number of courses on dog behaviour that can help you with this, click on the link below and have a look!

 

Would you like to know more about dogs? Check our Canine Courses:

Canine courses

 

The Pet Professionals

Food toys for dogs

Food toys are some of the best toys for dogs, and it’s easy to understand why! They combine all the advantages of treat-motivated training sessions with stimulating physical and mental exercises that will keep your pet thoroughly entertained.

Puzzle feeders can be given to any dog, but they are also excellent aids in the management of various health problems such as behaviour issues, digestive problems or obesity.

But there’s such a vast selection of treat toys that you might be asking yourself: What is the best one for my dog?

If you’re not sure where to start, here are our top tips on how to choose one that your dog will enjoy.

#1 Start simple and then increase the difficulty

The pet market is full of all manner of puzzle toys with varying complexity. They range from simple spiral bowls that increase eating time to hard challenges where your dog needs to move, touch or interact with things in the correct order to be given their treat.

For animals that are not used to this kind of challenge, it’s best to start with more straightforward puzzles and then gradually progress to the more complicated ones.

#2 Choose the right toy for your dog’s needs

There are puzzles to meet a variety of needs such as staving off boredom, increasing activity level, helping slow down voracious eaters, and even delaying ‘doggy dementia’ in old age.

Do some research and see which type of toys are best suited for your furry friend’s issues, as they are not all the same!

#3 Consider having more than one toy so you can swap them around

Dogs are curious and intelligent animals that love a good challenge, especially if there are some tasty treats at the end. However, they might grow a bit bored of doing the same thing over and over again.

To help avoid this, consider having multiple puzzler feeders so that you can rotate these and keep mealtimes fresh and interesting for your pet.

While it might take a couple of tries until you find a toy that really gets your pet’s attention, once you do, it can bring a whole new dimension to your dog’s mealtimes!

Would you like to know more about dogs? Check our Canine Courses:

Canine courses

 

Dogs, The Pet Professionals

Dog training

Dogs are intelligent animals, and mental stimulation is essential for them to lead a happy, and healthy life.

With the kids being back at school and the family spending less time at home, why not invest some time in teaching your dog a new trick?

Learning is a great way to stimulate your dog’s cognitive abilities and it can be a wonderful bonding experience between you and your pet.

That said, we leave you with our top five tips to help you train your dog!

 

#1: Setting up

Before you start:

Choose a quiet place to train your dog where you won’t be interrupted and where there are little or no distractions.

Gather all the materials needed for your training session (treats, objects, clicker, etc.).

Make sure that you’re relaxed and that you have time. If you are annoyed for some reason, if your mind is wandering, or if you’re in a rush, this can create a negative experience for your dog. If this is the case, it may be best to skip the training session.

Now that you have everything prepared, you can get your dog!

 

#2: Start small

You may want to teach your dog to navigate an obstacle course, but if you have never trained your dog before, make sure to start with more simple commands (such as sit, for example), which are easier to learn. This way, your dog will familiarise themselves with the process, and it will be easier to move on to more difficult tricks.

Another thing that helps is to keep training sessions short so that neither you nor your dog becomes tired or frustrated if the progress is not happening as fast as you were expecting.

 

#3: Break it down

Let’s go back to the obstacle course idea. Imagine that the course is comprised of three obstacles: a tunnel, a ramp and 10 weave poles, and that you want your dog to go through these in a set order. For your dog to complete these three obstacles in succession, they first need to learn to go through them individually and then you can build up from there.

 

#4: Imitation

Did you know that dogs are great copycats? If your dog is struggling to learn something, seeing another dog complete the same exercise may help them understand what is expected better.

 

#5: Rewards

Rewards are key in the process of learning, as rewarding a behaviour makes it more likely to be repeated. Rewards can take many forms depending on your dog’s personality – they can be food treats, praise or even toys. Make sure that you know which one your dog prefers to keep them motivated.

If your dog is doing something that was not intended, do not punish or yell at them. They can associate training with a negative experience, which will have a detrimental impact on results. Instead, ignore what they are doing and try again another time.

 

We hope you have fun teaching your dog something new these coming days! If you feel that they are struggling to learn something new, take a step back and try to figure out how you can break the task down into more manageable stages.

Be patient and good luck!

Would you like to know more about dogs? Check our Canine Courses:

Canine courses

 

Cats, Dogs, Horses, The Pet Professionals

Autumn celebrations and pet safety

Every season has its grace, and autumn has arrived bringing us shorter days, beautiful colours and a longing for cosiness and evenings by the fire.

Bringing some joy to this unprecedented year, autumn celebrations are fast approaching, so this is the perfect opportunity to go over some important pet safety precautions.

Halloween

If your Halloween costume is always on point and you want to make sure your pet is included, please keep in mind:

  • Pet costumes shouldn’t restrict in any way your pets’ movement, breathing, vision or hearing;
  • If your pet is not comfortable clothed, there are alternatives you can use, such as festive collars, bandanas or harnesses.

Also, be selfish and don’t share! As counter-intuitive as this may seem, our treats are not safe for pets as chocolate and some sweets contain substances that are toxic to them and which may well cause sickness.

Fireworks

Make sure your pet or horse is microchipped, and that your contact details are up to date to facilitate a reunion if they run should away.

At home, start preparing a safe place for your pets where they can escape to if they feel scared. It should include familiar items that will make them feel calm and comfortable, and some coverage to muffle the sounds.

On the day of the displays, make sure that you walk your dogs and exercise your horses before they start. Also, if possible, bring your pets inside and consider not letting your cats out to guarantee that they are safe at home.

Regarding horses, having them stabled during fireworks displays may cause additional stress. Consider turning them out if you believe there’s a possibility of self-injury due to trying to escape from an enclosed environment.

As many official displays have been cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, the British Veterinary Association has issued a warning regarding the likelihood of increased unregulated backyard fireworks.

If you know your pet struggles when the fireworks start popping, consider staying at home with them to provide some reassurance.
Also, talk to your vet – from desensitisation therapy to pheromones and various medications, there are a number of options available to help your pets cope with the stress.

Keep in mind that fearful pets may show signs of anxiety, which can be something as simple as pacing or panting, but also more undesirable behaviours, such as excessive vocalisation and toileting inside. If this happens, do not try to comfort your pets by petting them as this may be interpreted as positive reinforcement of an unwanted behaviour. However, it’s as important not to reprimand or punish them as this can worsen their fear.

The day after the displays, remove debris if you find them to avoid accidents.

If you have any concerns, don’t hesitate to seek professional advice. We wish you a happy and safe Halloween and Bonfire night!