New Year’s is all about fun for us humans, but for our furry companions the noise and crowds can be extremely stressful, even harmful.
Many pets are scared by the sound of fireworks and firecrackers. For them, New Year’s Eve is a nightmare.
Keep in mind that animals can hear sounds we can’t hear. Dogs’ hearing frequency ranges from 67 Hz to 45,000 Hz, while cats’ have a 45 Hz to 64,000 Hz hearing range. By comparison, humans can hear sounds in the 64 Hz to 23,000 Hz frequency range.
“It’s natural for dogs to be afraid of loud noises,” says renowned dog behaviorist Cesar Millan. “The sounds trigger their nervous systems, and they can become anxious or afraid.” Bright flashes and vivid smells make fireworks even more overwhelming for household pets.
Top 10 Pet Safety Tips
Before you start partying on New Year’s Eve, take some time to make sure that your pets will be as safe and as stress-free as possible that night by following these 10 pet safety tips.
1. Don’t Leave Your Pets Home Alone
Your pets are part of your family and your responsibility. Leaving them home alone with loud and confusing noises coming from outside is dangerous, not to mention unfair and cruel if your dogs are noise-reactive. Consider hiring a pet sitter. If you must leave them alone, make sure they’re in a safe and comfortable room (see #3 below).
2. Keep Your Pets Indoors
Never leave your pets outdoors while firecrackers and fireworks are going off on New Year’s Eve. Pets can suffer burns, hearing loss and eye damage from these explosions. They’re also terrified by the popping noises. They panic, try to escape and get injured in the process. Those that run away don’t always come back. If you must let your dog out for a bathroom break, use a leash. Make sure the collar fits properly (no more than two fingers fit between the collar and the neck), and stay close to your pet at all times.
3. Confine Your Pets
If you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party, put your pets in a safe room. Having people in the house will make them more anxious, and they could run out when doors are opened to let a guest in or out. Confine your pets to a familiar, cozy area (a bedroom or den, for example) with bedding, food, water, toys, a litter box for cats and training pads for dogs. Close all windows and curtains to muffle the noise outside. Try playing soothing music or leaving the TV on in the room to drown out the sound of fireworks and firecrackers.
4. Try Anti-Anxiety Measures
Try to distract your pets with toys and games or a kong filled with peanut butter. Some pets respond well to wearing a ThunderShirt—a snuggly fitted shirt that helps calm dogs and cats with gentle, constant pressure. There are several anxiety-reducing prescription and over-the-counter medications, as well as holistic therapies (herbal supplements, calming pheromones, pet-safe essential oils) that can help anxious pets. Talk to your vet about these options several weeks before New Year’s Eve so that you may have an opportunity to test them before the big night.
5. Update Microchips and ID Tags
New Year’s Eve is prime time for household pets to run away. Make sure your pets always wear collars with identification tags, even if they spend most or all of their time indoors. ID tags should include the pet’s name and your contact information (look into ID tags that can be engraved on both sides). If your pet has a microchip, go online or call the chip company to make sure the contact data is up to date.
6. Keep Alcohol Away
Keep alcohol away from pets. Alcohol is toxic to dogs and cats. It can cause drooling, dry heaves or vomiting, low blood pressure, low blood sugar, collapse, coma, organ damage and even death. Other drugs, such as marihuana and prescription medications, can be extremely dangerous to pets. See a vet or animal clinic immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested alcohol or any drug.
7. Keep Food Out of Reach
If you don’t confine your pets, instruct guests to not feed your pets and to throw all uneaten food in the trash. Fatty foods, onions, garlic, grapes, chocolate and bones can cause mild-to-serious digestive problems. Bones can also get stuck around the teeth, in the esophagus, stomach and intestines, causing blockages that need surgical intervention.
8. Beware of Decorations
Dogs and cats are curious animals, and they might do more than sniff and play with streamers, noisemakers, balloons, ribbons and tinsel. Ingesting any of these can cause mild-to-life-threatening digestive issues. Clean up any firework or firecracker debris that may have fallen in your yard, which can cause serious injury to your pets if ingested. Take your pets to the vet if they eat any of these items.
9. Go Some Place Quieter
If you have firecracker-loving neighbors, consider spending the evening elsewhere. Take your pets on an overnight trip to a quieter part of town. Stay with a relative or friend or at a pet-friendly hotel.
10. Exercise Your Pets
Exercise your pets during the day to wear them out before the New Year’s Eve celebrations kick off. Take your dogs on a long walk and play with them and with your cats. Exercising will tire them and make them more likely to nap in the evening.
In addition to taking these safety measures, you should stay calm and in control throughout the evening on New Year’s Eve. Don’t over-excite your pets, and don’t let your pets over-excite you. Comfort them with soothing words, hugs and treats. When it comes to your pets, playing it safe is the best way to start the New Year.