Taking care of your pets this Diwali
- October 22nd 2019
Diwali is right around the corner, and excitement is high for this festival of lights. But not everyone is looking forward to it. In cities all over India, dogs and cats will cower in their homes and in the streets as we celebrate this beginning of the new cycle and the triumph of light over dark.
It's no secret that pets are petrified during Diwali. Here are some reasons why this festival may be so stressful for your pet and how you can take care of them.
Why are pets scared during Diwali?
For your pets, the most petrifying aspect of Diwali is firecrackers. Dogs have a better sense of hearing than humans, which means firecrackers sound much louder to them – and firecrackers are loud, even to us.
Firecrackers can be even more petrifying than thunder because they’re accompanied by coloured lights and smoke, as well as a burning smell. And they’re unpredictable, both in frequency and volume. All of this can be overwhelming for your dog or cat; it can greatly aggravate their anxiety and fear.
Most pets try and hide when firecrackers burst. They can also try and run away, mistakenly assuming that they are running further from the source of the danger;when they learn that firecrackers are bursting all over the city and there is nowhere to run too, they can feel trapped.
How do you keep your pet safe?
We wrote a blog on how to take care of your pet during thunderstorms , which essentially covers how to protect your pet from loud noises. Firecrackers and Diwali are slightly different, and here is what you should keep in mind.
Create a safe space
The first step is to create a safe space that your dog can retreat to when the celebrations start. This could be their crate or their bed – anywhere your dog feels protected. Make sure it is as insulated from the noise as possible. Give them their blankets, food, treats and their favourite toys, and all the other pet accessories, so they have some place to hide away from the noise.
Buy earmuffs for your pet
While you may convince your family to not bursts crackers or may even get your society or colony involved, it isn’t possible to control everyone in the city. Until we have safer and firecracker-free Diwali celebrations, buy your pet earmuffs. This can help muffle the noise, which will make the ordeal less frightening.
Keep an eye on your pet
What your dog wants most in times of stress is you. Make sure you take time out from your celebrations to check in on your pet, soothe them if they’re scared and just generally show them that they are loved and everything is okay. Remember, the noise, celebration and mayhem can be very confusing for them, and they just need to know they are safe and loved.
Try an anxiety vest
Several pet parents now swear by anti-anxiety vests or wraps, such as the Thundershirt, which help calm the pets down. Anti-anxiety vests simple wrap around your dog tightly and thus help soothe some of their nervous tension. It has a similar calming effect as swaddling a baby. There are also several do-it-yourself versions of the vest or swaddling techniques, which could be useful this Diwali.
How to have a pet-friendly Diwali
Of course, it
would be best if we didn’t need to take care of our pets this Diwali at all
because everyone celebrated it in a pet-friendly way. Change starts with you.
Here are a few ways in which you can tweak your celebrations to ensure your
pets are included, no stray animals are harmed, and all creatures have as much
fun as you.
Don’t burst firecrackers
While they can be fun, firecrackers are not great for the environment nor are they good for your pet. Diwali is the festival of lights, not light and sound, and a firecracker-free celebration can be just as beautiful.
Choose pet-friendly firecrackers
Pet-friendly
firecrackers are noiseless, which means they’re not as distressing for your pet
as loud firecrackers. These are a good option if your family insists on using
firecrackers. Always make sure your pet sits at a safe distance from the
crackers – with no danger or opportunity of them running towards it – to make
sure they don’t get harmed.
Use
the terrace or your compound
Our pets are not the only animals out and about this season. There are a number of stray cats and dogs that are petrified each Diwali; hiding in any nook and cranny that they can find to escape the noise and mayhem. If you are bursting crackers, even noiseless ones, make sure you do it in your closed compound or on a terrace. This ensures no strays accidentally run towards the firecracker and injure themselves.
Pets are our family. Let’s celebrate Diwali in a way that includes them in the joy and delight of our festival of lights.
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