Aromatherapy can help pets cope with stress of fireworks

ANIMAL experts are recommending aromatherapy and sensory videos to help soothe pets’ nerves over New Year’s Eve fireworks.

Each year, the RSPCA is inundated with calls about pets suffering anxiety and stress surrounding firework displays across the country.

Since 2014, the charity has received 2,285 calls in England and Wales related to concerns about animal welfare and fireworks, with 411 calls last year.

This year, as pet-owners gear up to endure the displays as the country rings in the new year, alternative methods are being used to manage animal’s stress levels.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home said it uses aromatherapy sprays to relax their cats and dogs over the noisy period.

A Battersea spokesman said: “Currently at Battersea, we use a number of methods to help keep our animals calm during fireworks seasons.

“These include providing places to hide, playing calming classical music and blocking out windows to reduce the lights of the fireworks. These techniques can also work well in the home environment to help reduce the stress of fireworks for dogs and cats.”

The spokesman added: “A combination of these and the use of chews can keep dogs occupied.

“Aromatherapy sprays can work well for both dogs and cats – just spray a little bit on materials in the home or as a plug-in spray.”

Dog snack subscription service, Snack at Franks, has launched an Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response (ASMR) video series for dogs.

ASMR is a natural response triggered by placid sights and sounds such as whispers, accents, and crackles, which manifests itself as a tingling, sedative sensation within the body.

The video series amplifies the sounds of dogs large and small munching, scratching, grooming and lapping.

Graeme Hall, a dog behaviour expert, said: “ASMR is a fascinating concept and there is much speculation among those who experience it as to whether or not it is a phenomenon also experienced by dogs.”

Around 70,000 fireworks were set off during the London display on New Year’s Eve 2018, which lasted just over 10 minutes.