Fireworks and loud noise

Animals hear far more sharply than people. Fireworks, wedding bands and loudspeakers that seem merely loud to us can be terrifying to them. Every year pets bolt in panic and are lost. A little planning prevents most of it.

In the days before

• Make sure your dog or cat wears a collar with an identity tag and your phone number.
• Choose a quiet inner room as the safe room. Put the pet's bed, water and a familiar toy there.
• Ask your vet in advance if your pet has panicked badly before. Do not give any medicine without a vet's advice.

On the day

• Walk and feed dogs well before dusk, before the noise begins.
• Keep all pets indoors. Shut windows, doors and curtains.
• Play steady music or the television at a normal level to soften the bangs.
• Stay calm and carry on as normal. If your pet comes to you, comfort it quietly. Let it hide if it wants to.
• Move bird cages and small pets' cages to an inner room and partly cover them.
• Keep pets away from diyas, candles, crackers and sweets.

What not to do

• Do not take a pet out to watch fireworks.
• Do not tie a frightened dog outside or leave it on a balcony.
• Do not scold or force a frightened animal out of its hiding place.
• Do not burst crackers near street animals, and never tie anything to an animal.

The morning after

Check the walking route for burnt and unexploded crackers before you let a dog sniff around, and wipe its paws after the walk.

This is a care guide, not veterinary advice. It covers housing, food, routine and safety. It does not diagnose or treat illness. If your pet seems unwell, is hurt or behaves differently, take it to a qualified veterinarian without delay.