Health

Dogs and cats

Fear of fireworks and loud noises

Many dogs and cats are frightened by fireworks, which in Slovakia peak around New Year's Eve. Fear can cause panic, escape attempts and injury, and it often gets worse each year without help. Preparing weeks ahead and getting long-term help from your vet or a behaviour professional can make a real difference.

What you might notice

• Shaking, panting, pacing or clinging to you.
• Hiding, including behind furniture or on top of cupboards.
• Barking, whining or trying to run away.
• Toileting indoors.
• Refusing food.

Common causes

• Sudden loud bangs and flashes from fireworks.
• Lack of gentle exposure to everyday noises when young.
• Previous frightening experiences.
• Occasionally pain or illness that makes a pet more sensitive.

What you can do at home

• Set up a quiet den with blankets in a room your pet already feels safe in, weeks before New Year.
• Walk dogs in daylight before fireworks start, and keep cats indoors with a litter tray.
• Close windows, doors, cat flaps and curtains, and play steady background music.
• Stay calm and keep your routine as normal as possible.
• Let cats hide wherever they choose.

Book a vet in the next day or two if

• Your pet panics, injures itself or stays fearful for days after fireworks.
• Fear seems to be getting worse each year.
• You want a desensitisation plan or advice on calming options well before New Year.

Don't

• Never punish or tell off a frightened pet.
• Do not tempt a scared cat out of hiding or hold it against its will.
• Do not give human sedatives or ask for old-style tranquillisers that block movement but not fear.

Prevention

• Make sure your pet is microchipped and the details are up to date.
• Secure gardens and gaps in fences before the fireworks season.
• Play recorded firework sounds very quietly with treats over weeks, raising volume only if your pet stays relaxed.
• Introduce puppies and kittens gently to everyday noises.

This guide gives general information about common health problems in dogs and cats. It is not a diagnosis and it does not replace an examination by a veterinarian. Every animal is different, and signs that look mild can sometimes hide a serious problem, especially in cats, which often hide illness and pain. If you are worried about your pet, or if your pet shows any of the warning signs listed here, contact your vet or the nearest emergency veterinary clinic straight away. Never give your pet human medicines or any medicine not prescribed for that animal by a vet.