Pet owners are being urged to prepare for what experts at a Northampton vets have highlighted as the most anxious time of year for animals.
Noisy celebrations such as Halloween, Bonfire Night, Diwali, Christmas and New Year are all identified as occasions which cause increased anxiety and stress for pets.
Help is at hand though, as Spinney Vets, which runs free nurse-led anxiety clinics, is also running a Comfort your Pet campaign which is aimed at raising awareness of the challenges of the upcoming party season, while also providing advice, guidance and treatment.
Clinical director Iain Fletcher, said: “This is the most challenging time of year for pet owners as there are so many potential triggers of stress and anxiety in animals coming up.
“There are the bangs of fireworks, the noisy and hectic festive season – including unfamiliar faces and smells – and, of course, the possibility of autumn thunderstorms and earlier dark evenings.
“All can cause stress and anxiety in our pets and while some owners will seek guidance and advice, we also know there are many others who just suffer through this period with their pets not knowing that help is available.
“At Spinney Vets we offer free anxiety clinics run by our experienced nurses, including one who has completed a two-year animal behaviour course, who can give you great advice on how to help your pets with any noise phobias.
“The aim of the Comfort your Pet campaign is to raise awareness of the potential problems which may lie ahead, promote the numerous precautions and highlight the effective treatments which are available in a bid to ensure people are well informed and well prepared to cope with any potential problems.
“We will be providing lots of advice and guidance and can offer stress-busting treatments such as Feliway and Adaptil diffusers and collars, which help comfort pets and keep them calm.”
Iain said many owners may also wish to try sound therapy to desensitise their pets prior to fireworks season. “Sounds Scary” is now available to download for free from the Dogs Trust website at bit.ly/SoundsScary.
Now is the time to start as sound therapy needs to begin at least eight weeks before the noisy events are expected to start and then to be continued throughout the year for best results.
The Comfort your Pet campaign begins on Monday, September 30 and runs until Sunday, January 5, 2020.
