Fireworks cause significant fear and anxiety in millions of dogs annually, with noise phobia being one of the most treatable but frequently neglected welfare problems in companion animals.
Fireworks noise phobia causes acute suffering in affected dogs: elevated heart rate, trembling, panting, attempts to escape, and in some cases self-injury during extreme fear responses. The suffering is intense and predictable — occurring every bonfire night, new year, and celebration period. Effective treatments exist including sound desensitisation programmes, situational anxiolytics, long-term medication for severe cases, and management strategies. The welfare problem is that most dogs never receive treatment, with owners normalising fear as unavoidable.