Autumn pet advice from the Dick Vet

Autumn, especially Halloween and Bonfire Night, is an exciting time; however, some seasonal activities can have a serious impact on the health of our animal companions. Here’s our guide to keeping your pets safe this autumn.

Treat or trick?

Chocolate and artificial sweeteners can be harmful to pets, so please don’t feed your animals human treats – choose something that is tailored to your pet’s dietary requirements. Keep sweets away from pets too – their wrappers and curious aromas could be tempting to your pet, and potentially harmful. 

Halloween has lots of fun traditions such as carving pumpkins and decorating your home. If you decide to display decorations, make sure that your pet can’t ingest or get tangled up in them. Pumpkins with lit candles inside can be a cause of serious burns to animals, or the catalyst for a fire if knocked over by a pet. 

Fancy dress 

Some pets may not mind being dressed in costumes, but others can find this very distressing and, depending on the quality and style of the costume, this can pose a danger to their health. Avoid costumes that inhibit your pet’s movement or could become snagged on objects such as furniture. 

If you intend to go trick or treating, keep in mind that your own costume could be scary to some pets, as could the appearance of any costumed visitors who may knock on your door. If you are unsure how your pet will react, try to keep them in a separate room where they will feel comfortable and at ease.

Helping your pet with fireworks 

Fireworks are very popular at this time of year, but can be very frightening for some animals. Here are our top tips for helping keep your pets calm on Bonfire Night: 

Before Bonfire Night

• Provide a safe place for your pet to hide – perhaps their favourite spot, or a quiet room with no external walls. In the days leading up to Bonfire Night, encourage them to visit this area so that it is familiar to them
• Make sure that your pets are microchipped, so that if they do run away when scared, they can be returned safely to you. 

On the day

• Keep your pets indoors and keep curtains and doors closed
• Consider using music or the television to mask external noises 
• You can also distract them with toys, treats or chews
• If they need a walk, go during daylight, walk them on lead and choose quiet locations avoiding firework sites
• Avoid taking your pet to a bonfire display with you 
• If you decide to have your own bonfire, remember to relocate the stack and all materials before lighting, to avoid harming animals who might shelter there, such as hedgehogs or neighbourhood cats. 

Veterinary support

If you have previously seen your dog or cat behave in a fearful or anxious way when they hear fireworks, please book an appointment to see your vet. There are various medical issues, especially painful conditions, which can cause or contribute to the development of noise fears, so having your pet checked over is important to rule such conditions out.

Your vet can also advise on the various treatments available to help manage noise fears:

• Pheromone-based products such as diffusers and collars may be helpful to make your pet feel more safe and secure 
• Some pets with more severe noise fear or anxiety may benefit from medication to be used when fireworks are expected 
• Behavioural therapy can also help a nervous pet. Your vet can advise and refer your pet to a qualified behaviourist if required.

Hopefully, with a little advance planning, you and your pets will have a safe and enjoyable time this Halloween and Bonfire Night.