21/10/2026
If your dog or cat struggled with fear, anxiety or distress during last year's fireworks, now is the time to speak to your veterinary team.
Every year, veterinary practices receive last-minute requests for advice and medication from owners whose pets are terrified of fireworks.
But managing noise phobia effectively requires more than simply requesting medication the day before Bonfire Night.
Research suggests that approximately 25–50% of dogs experience firework-related fear, yet studies indicate that only 15–22.5% of owners seek professional help.
Cats are also affected, although their responses may be less obvious. Hiding, withdrawal and changes in normal behaviour can easily go unrecognised.
An important consideration is the relationship between pain and the development of noise-related fear.
Research has identified associations between musculoskeletal pain and noise sensitivity in dogs, particularly where fear develops later in life.
A dog presenting with new or worsening noise sensitivity, especially in middle or older age, should prompt consideration of underlying pain or other medical conditions.
▪Environmental management remains an important component of supporting animals during fireworks:
▪Adapt routines to minimise exposure, including walking dogs before dark and keeping cats safely indoors.
▪Provide familiar, secure hiding places and allow animals to choose where they feel safest.
▪Close curtains and use background noise to help reduce the impact of external sounds.
▪Check microchip registration details, as frightened animals may escape.
▪Reassure owners that comforting a frightened animal does not reinforce the emotion of fear.
▪Consider additional supportive measures, recognising that evidence for some commercially available calming products remains limited.
And what about medication?
For animals experiencing moderate to severe fear, environmental modifications alone may be insufficient.
Appropriately prescribed anxiolytic medication can be an important part of managing acute noise-related distress.
However, not all medications have the same evidence base, and sedation should not automatically be interpreted as reduced fear or anxiety.
Some treatments need to be started in advance of anticipated noise exposure, and veterinary surgeons may need to assess the patient, review their medical history and discuss an appropriate treatment plan.
This is why booking an appointment early matters.
Similarly, while various non-prescription calming products are marketed to pet owners, the evidence supporting their effectiveness is variable. These products should not be presented as equivalent alternatives to evidence-based treatment for animals experiencing significant distress.
Perhaps the most important question is what happens after firework season?
Desensitisation and counter-conditioning can be effective approaches to managing noise sensitivity, but successful programmes require time, appropriate planning and carefully controlled exposure.
Starting an intensive programme immediately before fireworks may be counterproductive, particularly when exposure to unpredictable loud noises cannot be controlled.
We should not be treating noise phobia as an annual emergency that begins in October and is forgotten by December.
Early identification, appropriate clinical assessment, effective short-term management and long-term behavioural intervention should all form part of our approach.
And importantly, the responsibility for supporting these patients extends across the entire veterinary team, with veterinary surgeons, veterinary nurses and appropriately qualified behaviour professionals all contributing to better outcomes.
If last year was difficult for your pet, please don't wait until the fireworks begin before asking for help. Book an appointment with your veterinary practice now.
