Fireworks and Our Animals: How to Keep Every Species Safe

Fireworks and Our Animals: Keeping Every Species Safe

Fireworks can be exciting for us, but for many animals, the loud bangs, bright flashes and unfamiliar smells can be frightening and stressful. Dogs and cats are often the first pets we think about during fireworks season, but rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, reptiles and other exotic pets can also be affected. Horses, livestock, outdoor poultry and wildlife may be vulnerable too.

With fireworks taking place throughout autumn and winter, a little preparation can make a big difference to animals' comfort, safety and wellbeing.

For practical advice on preparing your pets for fireworks, take a look at our Firework Care Sheet.

Dogs and Cats: Creating a Safe Haven

Dogs and cats may react to fireworks in different ways. Some become restless, hide or tremble, while others may pant, pace, vocalise, refuse food or attempt to escape.

There are several ways to help them feel safer:

• Keep them indoors. Bring pets inside before fireworks begin, and ensure cats are safely indoors before dusk. Make sure windows, doors and cat flaps are secure.
• Create a safe space. Provide a quiet, familiar area where your pet can hide or settle, with their bed, favourite toys and water nearby.
• Reduce noise and flashes. Close windows and curtains, and use the television, radio or gentle background music to help mask outside sounds.
• Stay calm and reassuring. Let your pet choose whether to seek comfort or hide. Offering reassurance when they need it will not make their fear worse.
• Plan walks carefully. Walk dogs during daylight where possible, keep them on a lead and avoid areas where fireworks are likely. Check that collars, harnesses and microchip details are up to date.
• Never punish fearful behaviour. Fear is an involuntary response, and punishment can make anxiety worse.
• If your pet becomes severely distressed each fireworks season, speak to your veterinary team in advance. Behavioural support, pheromone products and, where appropriate, prescribed medication may help. Never give human medication or use medication prescribed for another animal.

For more detailed advice on helping your dog or cat cope, see our Firework Care Sheet.

What if your pet goes missing?

Unfortunately, frightened pets may bolt through an open door or escape from the garden when startled by fireworks. Even pets that rarely venture far from home can become disorientated when frightened.

Keep doors and windows secure, ensure your pet's microchip details are up to date, and consider keeping cats indoors during periods when fireworks are expected.

If your pet does go missing, try not to panic. Our Lost Cat Advice and Lost Dog Advice factsheets explains practical steps you can take to help find them.

Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Other Small Furries

Rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, mice, chinchillas and ferrets can all be affected by sudden, loud noises. As prey animals, some may instinctively freeze or hide rather than show obvious signs of distress.

Rabbits and guinea pigs

• If they normally live outdoors, consider moving their enclosure into a secure, quiet, sheltered space for the fireworks period, ensuring adequate ventilation and a suitable temperature. Avoid sudden changes from outdoor conditions to a centrally heated room.
• If they cannot be moved, partially cover the enclosure with a secure, breathable blanket, leaving plenty of ventilation and ensuring the cover cannot be chewed or pulled inside.
• Provide familiar bedding, plenty of hay and additional hiding places or tunnels so they can retreat and feel secure.
• Keep bonded animals together unless there is a veterinary or welfare reason to separate them.
• Check that hutches and runs are secure against escape and predators, and inspect animals regularly.

Hamsters, gerbils, mice and rats

Move cages away from windows and external walls where practical, and place them in a quiet room. Provide extra nesting material and familiar hiding places. Avoid unnecessary handling during periods of heightened stress.

Ferrets and chinchillas

Ensure their accommodation is secure, quiet and well ventilated. Ferrets may try to escape when startled, while chinchillas need particular care to avoid overheating. Maintain their usual routine and provide familiar hiding and resting areas.

Watch for changes in eating, drinking, toileting or behaviour. Rabbits and guinea pigs that stop eating, or produce significantly fewer droppings, need prompt veterinary advice, as this can indicate a potentially serious problem.

Birds: Reducing Noise and Disturbance

Pet birds, including budgies, cockatiels, parrots, canaries and finches, can be particularly sensitive to sudden noises and flashes of light. A frightened bird may flap violently around its cage, potentially damaging feathers or sustaining injuries.

To help keep birds safe:

• Move cages away from windows and external doors, ideally into a quiet, familiar room.
• Close curtains or blinds to reduce flashes of light while maintaining appropriate ventilation.
• Maintain a familiar day-and-night routine. Gentle background sound may help, but avoid loud music or television.
• Provide familiar perches and safe hiding or visual-cover options appropriate to the species.
• Ensure cage doors are secure and that the bird cannot escape if startled.
• Avoid sudden changes to the bird's environment or excessive handling when it is frightened.
• Some birds may experience night frights, particularly if startled while resting in darkness. If your bird is prone to these episodes, discuss suitable lighting arrangements with our vets. A familiar, dim night light may help some birds, provided it does not disrupt their normal sleep cycle.

If a bird has been flapping frantically, check for signs of injury. Bleeding, difficulty perching, breathing changes or unusual weakness require prompt veterinary assessment.

Reptiles and Amphibians: Keeping Their Environment Stable

Reptiles and amphibians may not show fear in the same way as mammals or birds, but sudden disturbance, vibrations, bright flashes and changes to their surroundings can still be a concern.

For these animals, the priority is to maintain a stable, species-appropriate environment.

• Keep enclosures secure. Check vivarium doors, lids and locks to prevent escapes.
• Maintain normal temperatures and humidity. Ensure thermostats and heating and lighting equipment continue to function correctly.
• Reduce flashes and disturbance. Close curtains or blinds and, where appropriate, position the enclosure away from windows.
• Minimise unnecessary handling. Allow animals to retreat to their usual hides and avoid repeatedly disturbing them.
• Keep ventilation unobstructed. Never cover a vivarium in a way that compromises airflow or causes overheating.
• Check electrical equipment. Ensure heat sources, thermostats, lighting and cables remain secure.
• Do not make sudden changes to heating, lighting cycles or humidity in an attempt to calm your pet. Reptiles and amphibians rely on carefully controlled environmental conditions, and inappropriate changes can be harmful.

If your animal develops unusual breathing, weakness, loss of coordination or a significant change from its normal behaviour, contact us immediately.

Outdoor Animals, Horses and Livestock

Fireworks can be particularly challenging for animals that live outdoors or are kept in fields, paddocks or outbuildings. Horses, ponies, donkeys, chickens, ducks, goats, sheep and other livestock may become startled by loud bangs and flashes of light.

When frightened, larger animals can injure themselves on fencing, attempt to escape or cause damage to their surroundings. Planning ahead can help reduce these risks.

Chickens, ducks and other outdoor poultry

• Ensure birds have access to secure, familiar housing with adequate ventilation and enough space to move safely.
• Check that doors, gates and runs are secure against escape and predators.
• Keep their environment as consistent as possible and avoid unnecessary handling.
• If covering an enclosure to reduce flashes, ensure airflow is not restricted and the birds cannot become overheated.

What About Wildlife?

Wild animals can also be disturbed by fireworks. Loud noises, bright flashes and sudden activity may cause birds and other wildlife to flee from their usual resting, roosting or nesting places.

If you are planning a fireworks display, consider the impact on wildlife as well as domestic animals.

• Choose quieter alternatives where possible.
• Avoid setting off fireworks close to animal shelters, stables, livestock fields and wildlife habitats.
• Be mindful of areas where birds are known to roost or gather.
• Never deliberately set off fireworks near wildlife or nesting sites.
• Clear away firework debris safely afterwards, preventing animals from becoming entangled in or ingesting discarded materials.

A little consideration when planning celebrations can help reduce unnecessary disturbance to animals living in our gardens and surrounding countryside.

Signs of Stress to Look Out For

Every species is different, and not all animals display obvious signs of fear. Look out for changes such as:

• Hiding more than usual, freezing or becoming unusually withdrawn.
• Trembling, panting, pacing or frantic attempts to escape.
• Refusing food or showing changes in drinking or toileting.
• Birds flapping excessively, falling from perches or damaging feathers.
• Small mammals becoming unusually quiet or showing changes in eating and droppings.
• Horses and livestock becoming restless, sweating, bolting or behaving unusually.
• Reptiles displaying unusual agitation or a marked change from their normal behaviour.

If you are concerned about your pet's health or behaviour, contact our team for advice. Difficulty breathing, significant injury, collapse or other severe symptoms warrant urgent veterinary attention.

Planning Ahead Makes a Difference

If you know your pet struggles with fireworks, preparation is best started well before the event. If your pet struggles with fireworks, please contact us well in advance to discuss the options available. If your pet has previously been prescribed medication to help with fireworks anxiety, remember to order repeat medication in plenty of time so you have it ready when you need it.

Please don't leave it until the last minute, as prescriptions may require a veterinary review and time to arrange. If you're unsure what your pet needs, just ask us - we're always happy to help you plan ahead and find the most appropriate way to support them through fireworks season.

For a handy reminder of the steps you can take before, during and after fireworks, visit our Firework Care Sheet.

A Little Consideration Goes a Long Way

Fireworks season can be challenging for pets, livestock and wildlife, but simple steps can reduce the risk of fear, injury and escape.

Whether you share your home with a dog, cat, rabbit, parrot, hamster or bearded dragon, care for horses or livestock, or simply enjoy watching wildlife in your garden, taking time to consider animals' needs can help keep them safer.

If you are unsure how best to prepare your animals, please contact us. We are here to help you keep animals of every size and species safe and comfortable throughout fireworks season.