Hedgehogs in your Bonfire?

A great poster here.  PLEASE CHECK FOR WILDLIFE! Especially if you have been collecting up your bonfire over a period of time!  They choose to take refuge in there due to the appealing habitat it would be for them and they have no idea that humans are planning to set fire to this very appealing pile of wood.  Please check.  It is better being safe than sorry!

Cats and Dogs on Bonfire Night

Again a slightly hurried post.. will expand for New Years Fireworks post.  Some tips from my local vet Parkhill Vets on keeping your pets calm.

10 Tips to Help Keep Your Pets Happy During the Firework season

What you can do.......

 

1. Walk your dog early before the fireworks start.

2. Ensure windows, doors and cat flaps remain closed to prevent a frightened pet escaping.

3. Draw curtains and put on the TV or radio to mask the noise.

4. Provide a den or hiding place for your pet whilst the fireworks are going off. Cats feel more comfortable at a higher level.

5. Provide a litter tray for your cat.

6. Try not to leave your pets alone.

7. Ignore fearful behaviour, dogs may pick up on their owners' anxiety making the problem worse.

8. Provide distractions in the form of new toys and chews. Do NOT punish your pet! This will only make your pet more distressed.

9. For worried pets use an Adaptil Diffuser or Collar (for dogs) or Feliway Diffuser for Cats. Have these plugged in close to their 'Den' or hiding place, or where your pet spends most of its time.

10. Feed  Calmex for dogs 30-60 minutes before the desired effect is required. Calmex for cats is fed twice daily.

 

I would add to this by reinforcing the point of keep all gates and exits to your house locked.  Bonfire night is very very very prone to making dogs or cats run away because they get so scared they bolt in whatever direction to get away from the fireworks and stops them from thinking rationally, also make sure your dog/cat is identifiable with a tag so they can be returned if lost.

And some other good tips:

Horses on Bonfire Night (November the 5th)

All across the UK pet owners are dreading tomorrow night. The night when stress is very high among the animal kingdom with even the most "bombproof" of horses being affected.  Many horses have died through injury sustained on November 5th or died of stress directly as a result of it so please take these guidelines to try and prevent as much damage as possible and always contact your local vet if you think your horse may be particularly susceptible to injury and/or stress and get medication to help.

 
 Sorry for the posts being so last minute but been very busy as usual! (please await a blog post sometime soon on my adventures this half term just gone).

Some great advice I stumbled across from Rowena Cook:

* Ask locally if anyone is intending to release fireworks so that you can be prepared.

* If you have a horse that is sensitive to noise then give some sedation, or put ear plugs in.

* Provide plenty of hay or haylage to keep the horse occupied.

* Remain on hand so that any rugs can be removed or reduced in number, as some horses may sweat up and that in itself can cause distress.

* Your presence will also have a resassuring effect.

* For a horse that is fractious, do not go into the stable to try to calm him down unless past experience has shown that this does work, otherwise you risk injury to yourself. Better to close the top door and let the horse deal with the situation and then attend to him once the fireworks are over.

* If possible, leave some lighting on rather than the yard being in darkness; this has the effect of the "flashing" not seeming to sudden and bright.

* Leave a radio on throughout.

* Opinion varies as to whether horses that are usually out should be brought in but if not used to being in, then this can cause more upset than being left out. If you are concerned, a little sedation will ease the situation.

* For horses that are out, double check your field for any potential causes of injury should they run about and make sure all fencing is as secure as possible.

* Remain on hand if possible, or at least carry out checks through the evening.

* If your horse is colic-prone, be sure to have appropriate medication to hand so that you can take action prior to the arrival of your vet (if warranted).

and from World Horse Welfare:

Stable Care
 

• Make sure you have sand and water nearby in case of a fire around the stables.
   
• If you keep your horse at livery you should be familiar with the fire drills – make sure you know where you should go with your horse.
   

Field Care
 

• In the morning check your field for any stray fireworks which might have landed there. It’s not uncommon for people to use fireworks to mark other occasions such as New Year or a wedding, so keep an eye out for public notices of such events.

- See more at: http://www.worldhorsewelfare.org/Fireworks#sthash.k1Al9XKc.dpuf