Fireworks cause acute fear responses in a significant proportion of dogs, with effective management strategies preventing most severe welfare impacts.
Fireworks cause acute panic in sensitive dogs that is indistinguishable physiologically from extreme fear in any other context. Dogs experiencing fireworks panic show trembling, panting, hiding, destructive behaviour and attempts to escape that may result in injury. Unlike weather phobia, fireworks events are partly predictable allowing preparation. Management combining environment modification (secure den, curtains, white noise), pheromone therapy and where needed, veterinary medication, prevents the most severe welfare impacts. Long-term desensitisation addresses the underlying fear response, providing durable improvement beyond any single fireworks season.