Diwali is an immensely popular festival celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and more all around the world, but for animals, it can prove to be a time of terror.
Diwali, or the ‘festival of light’ falls around the same time each year, and is celebrated with feasts, music and fireworks, however, for animals, it’s not such an enjoyable festival.
Pet owners everywhere will relate to the stress caused by their animals becoming alarmed and frantic as they hear the thunderous noises caused by these elaborate firework displays. Diwali fireworks, as well as upcoming Firework Night in November, soon followed by New Years’ celebrations, can cause pets to become increasingly stressed, which can impact heir health negatively.
So what causes this instinctive reaction to fireworks?
For most animals, fear of loud noises is linked to instinct: loud noises mean danger. A multitude of factors including gender, exposure to loud noises when young and whether an animal has been neutered or not can all have an effect on how animals react to fireworks. Female dogs, for example, are more likely to have a negative reaction to fireworks, and neutered animals also tend to be more scared of loud noises such as fireworks. However, animals can sense the difference between natural loud noises, such as thunder and lightning in a storm, and unnatural noises like fireworks, and this difference can be unsettling for animals, who can react instinctively to foreign noises such as fireworks in several different behaviours.
These behaviours are often recognisable from the usual routines owners recognise from their pets. Many animals appear more frantic during storms or firework displays, running around or seeking somewhere to hide from the danger they sense. Animals can also shake or appear to shiver when very anxious. Cats swallow repetitively when very anxious and animals can also salivate extensively when in danger. Lots of animals commonly urinate when very nervous.
How can owners help their animals when concerned for their safety during a firework display?
Keeping animals in a more enclosed space ensures that they don’t run away and become lost and panicked while nervous, and staying indoors mutes the noises made by fireworks so is also a better environment for animals to be kept in. Providing pets with a safe, dark space to hide is also beneficial as an animal can settle down and isn’t exposed directly to the loud noises and bright colours.
Calming pressure wraps are common stress-relievers for dogs and apply pressure to the animal’s torso. Other methods like pheromones emitted through a diffuser, spray or collar can relive stress especially in cats and dogs-also useful for travelling or when there is a new addition of a pet in a household or new guests visiting.
Another remedy is trying to calm the animal yourself. Calming and reassuring noises can relive stress in pets greatly as it proves their owner isn’t alarmed by the display.
For animals worldwide, the months leading up to the new year can involve great stress and anxiety but, following the right steps, owners can really help their pets to maintain healthy and calm, even during firework displays which can be traumatising for animals, and help their pets revert to their excited selves soon after the fireworks are over.
