We all love the sound and spectacle of a fireworks display but keeping your pet stress free from the loud noises on bonfire night can be quite a challenge. You can normally spot the signs of stress in dogs quite easily and can include anything from trembling, hiding behind furniture and excessive barking. Cats on the other hand, are masters of disguise and the signs are less easy to spot but look out for then hiding behind or on top of furniture, refusing to eat or trying to run away.

With a bit of forward planning, there’s plenty that can be done to help your pets cope with the stress of bonfire night. There’s a natural supplement called Zylkene(made from a protein found in milk) which produces a calming effect similar in some ways to prescription drugs such as diazepam but without any of the associated side effects. It can be used as a short treatment to cover an upcoming stressful event or for longer periods. In association with independent animal behavourists, Zylkene has also produced a sound desensitization programme on CD which can help your pet cope with sudden loud noises. It’s also a good idea, especially for dogs, to prepare a den for them to hide in whilst the fireworks are going off. This should be done a few weeks in advance so your dog can get used to it – if you find a place where the dog feels safe and would normally go and perhaps put some favourite toys and healthy treats in it, this will encourage your dog to use it as a place of reassurance.

Stress relieving sprays are also very effective – There’s a group of products from Adaptil (formerly known as DAP) which contain a synthetic copy of the natural canine appeasing pheromone which is proven to help support dogs in stressful situations. They can be purchased as a spray, a diffuser or a collar for the dog to wear and there is a similar version for cats called Feliway.

Alternatively, has anyone thought about developing doggy earmuffs!!