The arrival of summer and popular celebrations, such as the San Juan festival, sometimes bring with them firecrackers and fireworks that fill the streets with noise. Despite the fun, this moment is one of the most feared by pet parents, since in general, most dogs and cats get nervous when faced with loud sound stimuli. Reactions can range from excessive panting and restlessness to flight behaviors that put their physical integrity at risk.
What’s a dog who is afraid of firecrackers and fireworks to do? One of the frequent reactions is excessive and rapid breathing. In addition to panting, dogs can be restless, for example, moving around the house from one place to another. If we see that he yawns, we might think that he is bored, but in reality it could also be another way of expressing his concern. Some also react to sound stimulation by barking or sobbing. It can also happen that they hardly react to our call and remain stopped due to the blockage caused by the noise. Finally, another of the typical reactions could be their desire to flee at all costs, which they can immediately feel when they hear any noise.
Cats also have a particular way of reacting to these loud sound stimuli. Don’t be surprised that, after the firecracker, the cat also chooses to flee quickly. It is one of the ways they have to express their fear. In addition to those behaviors, they will also try to hide. Any corner of the house can serve as a hiding place, such as climbing on a shelf, staying under our bed or between the curtains, and staying there until they feel safe to leave it. On the other hand, cats can also react in the opposite way, in tension, remaining immobile, blocked or even staring into space.
“We can propose a correct habituation process to different auditory stimuli during their first months of life, progressively and at intensities manageable by our dog or cat”, in any case, under the supervision of a professional, explains Salvador. “Getting them used to all kinds of situations or stimuli from a very young age will help them better face any adversity they encounter as an adult,” remarks Laia Salvador, an expert in feline behavior and canine educator.
Given the imminent arrival of San Juan, some people choose to temporarily move with their dogs or cats to a friend or relative’s house, far from the sounds of firecrackers. But not everyone can do it and, furthermore, we can rarely escape fireworks when it is one of the characteristics of such a massive celebration. What we do need to know is that, although there are no magic formulas, we can implement some measures to limit this fear.
“That our dog or cat has a rest and tranquility area at home can help them find calm in case they are surprised by the sound of firecrackers or firecrackers,” advises the expert in feline behavior and canine educator, Laia Salvador. We can accommodate a quiet place, such as the bathroom —since it is usually in an area further away from the noise— with relaxing music in the background to cover that sound that comes from outside. In that space we will leave his bed and also his favorite toy. The ideal is to do this routine beyond San Juan so that you perceive it as something normal and do not associate it with something negative.
Our behavior is key to overcoming their fear of these noises. You have to transmit security to them, without giving importance to the situation. “Our emotional example will be essential to transmit calm: if a firecracker sounds and he appears surprised, restless or scared, we must remain neutral, acting normally, as if we had not heard it. We should not pay any attention to their reactions of surprise or fear”, explains Salvador. In addition, it is always better that we spend as much time as possible at home and not leave them alone, you are their greatest example, accompany them, stay calm and be their source of security.
In the case of cats that have access to the outside, moving freely around the terrace or neighboring gardens in search of adventures, we must be especially careful in order to avoid accidents. Therefore, doors and windows must be closed. In addition, on the days that we know there will be firecrackers, it is advisable to keep the kittens under control inside the house and with a well-equipped security area, whether it is a room or a hiding place.
If our dog or cat is in an emotional state of fear, they can act in different ways: isolate themselves, seek us out, or block themselves. If he isolates himself, either in the area that we have provided him or that he has found himself (some get under the bed or hide in a corner of the house), we should never take him out of there. You have to leave him alone until he decides to leave. On the other hand, if he blocks himself and seeks us as a refuge, we should not calm him down or comfort him with caresses and kind words, nor give him prizes when he is afraid. It is counterproductive since we would reinforce that behavior.
Then, once all the noise is over, we can help our dog or cat by providing physical and mental activity. Thanks to exercise we can help you release tension and balance yourself emotionally.
In extreme situations, it is advisable to always go to the vet so that they can help us. However, we should not use medications without a veterinarian’s recommendation because any drug—both human and veterinary—could cause an unwanted problem for your dog or cat, for example toxicity or adverse effects due to an inadequate dose. This measure, far from helping you, can cause you a serious problem.
It is also possible that it surprises us and that a dog or cat that has never been nervous does then. Showing an aversion to firecrackers when he hasn’t so far is something that could happen. In any case, if we live with a puppy, it is important to accustom it to this stimulus carefully, so it will be easier for us to avoid having a bad time in the future.
If this year during the festival of San Juan you observe that your dog or your cat continue to react adversely to firecrackers, fireworks and loud sounds, it is recommended that, once these dates have passed, you put yourself in the hands of a professional trusted to begin a desensitization process. In this way, the dog or cat will be prepared to not have a bad time when there are other parties in which the pyrotechnic noise has so much prominence. You will both win by feeling safe and happy.
