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COMMERCIAL FEATURE
• Full operating facilities • Regular Clinics • 24hr Veterinary cover locally Consulting Times Mon - Fri 9am - 10.15am, 4.30pm - 6pm (by appointment) Saturday 11am - 12pm (by appointment) Reception Opening Times Monday - friday 9am - 6pm, Saturday 9am - 12pm Audley Avenue, Newport TF10 7BX (Off A518 Telford Road) www.ternvets.co.uk Tern Veterinary Group 01952 820222Remember remember the fifth of November
With firework season just around the corner it’s time for those of us with
pets to consider how to help them cope.
However much we all love fireworks, it’s
estimated that around 45% of our
pets’ exhibit signs of fear, stress and
anxiety when they hear those
loud bangs and screeches. So
what should you do to help
them cope?
Making sure your pet has
somewhere to hide is a good
idea. Building a dark secure ‘den’
under a table or behind a couch
- away from windows and doors is
a good place to start. Why not do this
a couple of days in advance? Adding your
pets’ favourite toys or blanket will make it a happier
place. You could consider the use of pheromone
diffusers such as Adaptil or Feliway (CEVA) which
release an odourless chemical from a plug in device
that makes your pet feel comforted and safe. Plug
this in ahead of time, near the den you have made.
In the daytime, walk your dogs and tire them out as
much as you can! Encourage them to toilet before it
goes dark, to prevent being caught outside when the
fireworks begin. Cats and those small furry pets that
live outside should be brought indoors if
possible. If not, adding blankets and
towels to one area of the hutch can
help with sound proofing, so long
as you ensure that your pet can
still see out.
As the sun goes down, draw
the curtains and turn up the
television or radio to help to
mask what’s happening and
muffle the sound. Lots of normal
household background noise helps!
Whilst it can be tempting to comfort
your pet, fuss them and feed them treats
if they are showing signs of fear, this can actually
enforce fearful behaviour and make it worse. It is
better to try and engage your pet in a game to take
their mind off it and act as normal as possible.
We are always available for a chat to help get your
pets safely though bonfire night – so please give us
a call if you need us. The very best way to deal with
phobias is to start training – so if this one is difficult
with your pets – why not pop in so we can plan a
training program to get you ready for next year.
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NOVEMBER 2015