Bonfire Night and Pet Health Care
That time of year is upon us again. Bonfire night is upon us. There are plenty of exciting displays to enjoy, but this time of year can be terrifying for pets. Many dog and cat owners underestimate just how traumatic the noise and excitement of Bonfire Night can be for animals. In the excitement it can be easy to forget exactly how important it is to take our pet health care responsibility seriously. This is never more important than Bonfire Night.
It is perhaps understandable that owners feel that they should make an extra fuss of their pets whilst the fireworks are going on outside, as a means of trying to calm them down, pet health care experts would argue that this isn’t the best solution. Cuddles and affection could actually make a frightened animal more afraid. An owner who is more affectionate than normal can give the animal the impression that the owner is also frightened and that their fear is justified. Much better to maintain calm yourself by behaving normally so that your pets can see that there is no reason to be afraid.
As far as pet health care goes, stick with the normal advice for this time of year. Make sure your pets stay indoors on and around Bonfire Night. This is for other people’s safety as well as their own. When frightened, dogs can bolt and may even bite. Cats can easily be hit by fireworks or burnt by fires if they are left outside. Horses should be properly stabled because they are prone to becoming frightened. Don’t forget to bring in small animals such as rabbits too.
In the home, make sure that you maintain clam and do not give your pets any reason to be frightened. A good idea is to play some quiet music or have the TV on so that the sound of fireworks is reduced.
Every now and then we are reminded of our pet health care responsibilities. Bonfire Night is one of those times, but it can easily be handled with common sense.
