With the days drawing shorter our thoughts will be drawn to autumn and all that it brings.  For some and their animals this will involve the dreadful experience of fireworks and bonfire night.  Now is the ideal time to prepare for the firework season, as there are a number of measures which can help your animal through the period. Advice on preparing your animal can be found at www.petfireworkfear.co.uk.

For dogs and cats pheromone diffusers such as DAP or Feliway can help reduce anxiety;  these are available from your vet.  Closer to the firework season keep pets indoors during the evenings.  Closing curtains and having music or the TV on will provide some distraction.  A quiet place such as a pet carrier may provide your dog or cat with a sense of security and comfort.

The tendency to comfort or reassure our animals when they are distressed is understandable but will not help the problem.  It may reinforce their fear.  Hard though it is, ignoring your dog or cat if they are scared will help.  Let them hide away and reward them when they are recovered.

If you must be outside, keep the animal on a lead at all times and away from bonfires and fireworks.  Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification in case he or she escapes.  Talk to your vet about having your pet micro chipped if they are not already.  Smaller pets such as guinea pigs or rabbits can be temporarily moved into a garage, or turned to face a wall or the hutch can be covered to reduce sound impact.

In some cases of noise phobias, medication may be prescribed by your vet.  The most common type will be used in the short term to block the animal's memory of an event so that the associated fearful behaviour does not worsen. 

These measures will help your pet cope this year, but for dogs with firework fear working through a desensitisation and counter conditioning programme using recordings of fireworks could prevent problems in the future.  This programme is best worked through away from the firework season so ask your vet about 'Sounds Scary' CDs and start work in January.