Fear of fireworks is extremely common in dogs and cats, causing significant welfare harm during bonfire night, new year, and other events, and evidence-based interventions can significantly reduce this suffering.
Fireworks fear causes animals to experience an acute panic response characterised by elevated heart rate, cortisol release, trembling, hiding, escape attempts, and in severe cases loss of bowel and bladder control. This response is highly distressing and physiologically taxing, with animals showing signs of stress for hours after fireworks end. The welfare cost is enormous given the number of animals affected and the multiple annual events that trigger fear. Preventing fireworks fear through gradual sound desensitisation in young animals is the most effective welfare intervention, with medication providing important acute relief for animals with established phobia.