Fireworks & Noise Phobias

The most common fear phobias are of fireworks, thunderstorms and gunshots. The fear of loud noises can soon become a phobia which is defined as a persistent, excessive and irrational fear response.

There are three main ways to deal with phobia’s which are often used in conjunction with each other, these are:

1. Behavioural modification and training

2. Natural treatments

3. Drugs

Behaviour Modification and Training

Basic steps to reduce firework and other noise phobias are as follow:

• Do not leave your pet unattended

• Keep your pet indoors

• Close windows to reduce bangs and shut curtains to reduce any visual stimulation from fireworks

• Play music or ensure the television is on to try to reduce the impact of the loud noises

• Try to keep relaxed by playing with toys before the fireworks start and keep playing throughout. Food filled treats work well and will keep your pet occupied

• Try to ignore any signs of restlessness and stress as this reinforces the fear behaviour. Instead remember to reward the calm, relaxed, good behaviour

• Ensure your pet has access to areas where it feels safe, for example behind the sofa or on the bed.

• Feed your pet before the fireworks; start to encourage your pet to rest

• Try to remain calm and relaxed yourself

Long-term effective solution to noise phobias is centred on desensitisation. It works by reducing the animal’s response by exposing it to increasing levels of the fear producing stimulus. There are numerous CD’s on the market with various noise phobia recordings one of the best for fireworks is Zyklene Sounds Desensitisation Programme which has clear written and verbal instructions to get you started or Sounds Scary CD which comes with a manual and foldout easy start poster. Desensitisation should be introduced when your pet is NOT likely to hear the ‘scary’ noise out of the desensitisation programme.

The idea is that you start by playing the CD’s at a very low volume and gradually increase the volume over a period of weeks. If your pet reacts to the sounds in a fearful way then go back to a reduced volume and build it up again. It is important to engage in normal daily activities and not to reward any fearful behaviours but to reward calm behaviour.

Natural Treatments

Cat Appeasing Pheromone – Feliway made by Ceva Animal Health. Feliway^® is a synthetic copy of the feline facial pheromone, used by cats to mark their territory as safe and secure. By mimicking the cat’s natural facial pheromones, Feliway^® creates a state of familiarity and security in the cat's local environment. As a result, Feliway^® can be used to help comfort and reassure cats, while they cope with a challenging situation and/or help prevent or reduce the stress caused to a cat during a change in their environment.

Another highly reccommended product which has now been developed into a form suitable for humans is Zylkene which is a food supplement made from a protein found in milk. The active ingredient is a peptide (a simple sort of protein molecule) which is able to bind temporarily to certain receptors in the brain. This has a calming influence which is similar in some ways to tranquilliser drugs such as diazepam (“Vallium”), but without the side effects. It has been clinically proven to be effective in dogs and cats (as well as rats and humans). It is supplied in 3 different sizes of capsule, chosen according to the size of the animal to be treated. The capsules are opened and sprinkled on food once daily and is highly palatable.

Drugs

There are numerous drugs used to calm pets suffering from anxiety related stress, common examples  include ACP, Clomicalm and Selgian. All drugs used to modify or solve behaviour problems such as noise phobias must be recommended and prescribed by a veterinary surgeon as they can have serious side effects and must be used in conjuction with behavioural modification techniques not just as a quick fix.