Fireworks cause extreme fear and panic in many dogs. Understanding the severity of this welfare issue and available management options protects dogs around celebrations.
Fireworks anxiety in dogs represents one of the most significant acute welfare harms affecting companion animals in many countries. The fear response to fireworks — which from the dog's perspective are unpredictable, loud, and threatening stimuli — ranges from mild anxiety to absolute panic. Dogs in a panic state experience acute psychological and physiological distress equivalent to a serious threat response. This distress is entirely preventable with appropriate management, yet many dogs experience it repeatedly every year. The normalisation of fireworks fear as something that simply happens to some dogs, rather than as a serious welfare problem requiring active management, has contributed to undertreatment. The combination of desensitisation, environmental management, and appropriate medication for severely affected dogs can dramatically reduce welfare impact.