Another great blog by Bryony The Pet Nurse:
So the fireworks are nearly upon us, hopefully you've read part one and prepared yourselves by embarking on training, having an action plan or setting up a safe-den for your pet.  Unfortunately firework season doesn’t just mean one of two nights of displays, the increase in firework sales has led to more and more people having them and generally the 'bonfire' period starts about now.  So to keep your house happy here’s some more information on what to do.
To go in your safe den there's a new product on the market that I shall be trying in my house this year which is Pet Remedy Plug in Diffuser.  This contains a special blend of valerian and other calming essential oils into the surrounding area; with a number of positive reviews this product has been proven to help settle all mammals, especially dogs, cats, birds and horses.  Plug in near the safe den or stable, hang the travel diffuser card in your pet’s hutch and car or put a few drops directly onto the bed, with refills available this is sure to be valued product.

What to do on the nightMake sure that you don’t forget about your outside animals.  Bring in or cover up hutches, close stables, lock cat flaps and take your dogs out for the evening walk before dark.
It is advisable to give dogs their normal evening meal before dusk; some people may give some additional starchy carbs such as pasta.
DO stay calm and DON'T change your behaviour.
Most people feel obligated to reassure their dogs when it is exhibiting signs of fear or anxiety. Most people will cuddle their dog or fuss over them and instead of making your dog feel better this type of attention is actually showing reward for the fearful behaviour and as a result it reinforces their fear reaction and will in fact make the problem worse next time.
DO try to remain neutral during the fireworks and DON'T act differently. If you anticipate of your dog’s reaction to fireworks in a negative way your dog will pick up on your mood and emotions. If you appear tense when you hear and see fireworks because you are worrying about your dogs’ reaction, you may make their fear worse. Be aware of your body language, your dog needs to know that there is no reason to be afraid
DO put on some music or turn up the volume on the television set.
This can help to drown out the sound of the fireworks. Close the windows and doors to help muffle the sound
DON'T disturb your pets if they are hidingIf your pet attempts to hide or find a safe place under a bed or in a cupboard don’t be tempted to interrupt their instinctual need to find a safe place. Do not try to remove them from their safe place or force them out in an effort to show them that there is nothing to worry about. A frightened dog is only one step away from fear aggression so don’t push them past their comfort zone or you may get bitten or scratched out of sheer panic.

The Signs of Stress
It is important that you can recognise the signs of stress and so you can ignore them:

·         Dogs panting, salivation, sweaty paws, whining & barking for no apparent reason, lip licking, yawning, sneezing, shaking & shivering or trembling, hyperactive or restless, hiding, glazed eyes, seemingly naughty & unable to concentrate on commands, be defensive or destructive, tail chasing or rolling over in a bid to displace anxiety, loss of appetite, growling, aggression or diarrhoea.

·         Cats scratching or destructiveness, urine spraying, aggression, anorexia or over-eating, over-grooming, house soiling, hiding & appearing withdrawn, decreased levels of activity

·         Birds Depression, moodiness or irritability, feather plucking, increased pecking or elimination, ruffled feathers, abnormal vocalisation

·         Rabbits eyes enlarged & show whites, tense body with tail up, ears laid back tightly, growling or squeaking, lack of vitality or interest, rapid breathing, biting or flinching.

·         Horses whinnying, swaying, crib biting, pacing, sweating, anorexia, head bobbing

Dog owners across the UK are being invited to take a Walk in the Dark this October to raise money for the charity Medical Detection Dogs.

Collarways, Intellidogs and local dog walking group, Big Walkies via Twitter earlier this year, developed the idea of Walk in the Dark. Walk in the Dark events aim to highlight the importance of visibility when dog walking, especially when the nights draw in at autumn time.

Big Walkies are organising A Walk in the Dark in Cambridgeshire. Becca and Jackie (Directors) say, “It will be a great way to get those who love dogs together for a fun, sociable event, whilst raising essential funds for a very good cause.”

Walk in the Dark Cambridgeshire will take place on Saturday 15th October from 5pm - 6pm. Hinchingbrooke Country Park has kindly agreed to host the event.
In order to raise maximum funds Big Walkies are suggesting a £1 donation per dog.

Medical Detection Dogs trains specialist assistance dogs to help save the lives of people with medical conditions such as type 1 diabetes and Addison’s disease. The charity’s first achievement was successfully training dogs to sniff out cancer in human urine samples. 

There is a 50 per cent increase in road accidents involving dogs during the winter months and many of these could be easily avoided if dogs were more visible to road users.
 
Cambridgeshire Police have given the following advice in regards to safety in the dark:

• Take a torch
  
• Take a mobile phone for emergencies
  
• Always tell someone where you are going and when you will be back
  
• Try not to go alone
  
• Avoid secluded areas
  
• Wear high visibility clothing if walking near a road
  
• Use paths, rather than walking on the road.       
  
• Walk facing traffic so you can see and react to vehicles.
  
• Use extra caution when crossing streets. Drivers do not expect pedestrians to be out walking at night.
  
• Use the same routes used by other walkers and runners.
  
• Beware of trip hazards.
  
• Don't be blinded by the light. Headlights can make it difficult for you to see for a while.
  
• Don’t wear earphones or listen to music. These can be a target for criminals or prevent you from being alerted to oncoming danger.

Cambridgeshire Police will be at the event along with The Pet Nurse, from St Neots. They will both be on hand for safety advice for you and your dogs and also medical advice for your dogs.

All participants will receive a goody bag. These have been kindly sponsored by:

• Wagg pet food
• STAR FM
• Pet Owners Association
• Dogs Trust
• Wood Green the Animals Charity
• Young Lives
• James Wellbeloved
• Kennel Club

To join in with Cambridgeshire’s Walk in the Dark please visit: www.bigwalkies.org.uk for more information!

Bryony The Pet Nurse takes over our blog with some VERY useful advice: