Start now or watch them suffer: dog expert sounds the alarm ahead of fireworks season

As October deepens and the nights draw in, canine expert Angela Day is issuing a call to dog owners: preparation for fireworks season must start now, not when the bangs begin.

“Remember, remember, the 5th of November, it’s not that long away,” Angela warns, and once again many of our beloved dogs will spend the autumn weeks cowering in fear.

For many owners, fireworks time is dread incarnate. “You’ve tried so many things, but every year you dread their cowering, the fear you see in their eyes, the sudden starts, the shaking, the barking, the hiding behind the sofa,” says Angela. “You just want to be able to help them!”

The data bears her out. According to the PDSA’s Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report, 41 per cent of dog owners say their dog is afraid of fireworks, that’s about 4.1 million dogs in the UK. Other estimates suggest around 40 per cent of dogs and 34 percent of cats show fear of fireworks (UK Parliament).

Meanwhile, veterinary practices routinely report increases in pets suffering noise phobias around Bonfire Night and New Year. Tragically, the consequences can sometimes be physical, not just psychological. The PDSA reports that they see an average of 1,400 pets annually with firework-related issues, including injuries or trauma (Visionline).

One dramatic recent case saw a dog named Rosie break her femur after panicking and tumbling during a fireworks display. Beyond domestic pets, in November 2024 Edinburgh Zoo attributed the death of a baby red panda, named Roxie, to stress triggered by fireworks. Zoo vets believe she choked on her vomit after being startled by the noise (The Guardian).

There are also reports of police dogs being targeted. In September 2025 a Staffordshire police dog called Bones was injured when fireworks were hurled at officers during riots (The Independent).

These grim anecdotes only underline that fireworks are not a sidelined issue for pet owners, they can be dangerous, distressing, and sometimes deadly.

Angela’s approach: Change your dog's perception.

Angela’s thesis is simple but powerful: Fear is a perception. And to your dog the threat is very real.

“So if fear is a perception then surely there is a way to alter that perception?” she asks.

“Not only am I going to reassure you that with patience and consistency there is, I’m also going to explain that the answer may have been in yours or your clinical massage therapist’s hands all along.”

She explains the fight, flight (or fright) response versus the rest and digest branch of the autonomic nervous system: loud bangs trigger adrenaline and cortisol, speeding up heart rate, dropping digestion, narrowing focus. In an overtaxed dog, especially one already experiencing pain or physical discomfort, that reaction is magnified.

“When your dog feels excessive and prolonged fear, just like in humans, it can cause actual physical pain,” she notes. “If your dog is already in pain, or is showing lameness, limping, twitching skin and mobility problems, the fear response becomes exaggerated and super sensitive.”

Angela argues that massage and manipulative therapies, when used regularly and gently, can send a reassuring message to the nervous system, nudging it toward rest, digestion and calm. Like a human being soothed by a gentle spa massage, the dog may respond with slower breathing, relaxed muscles, softened eyes and eventually sleep.

“This is not a one massage fix, it is a consistently and regularly delivered message to your dog’s nervous system with calm, reassurance, patience and empathy.”

Your timetable: what to do, and when:

Now (October) Begin gentle desensitisation to firework sounds (at very low volume), start massage sessions, create and familiarise your dog with a “safe space”, secure your garden.

Mid-October to Early November Gradually increase the volume of recorded firework noises (only if the dog is coping), continue massage, pair noise with treats, use calming scents or sounds, check microchip and ID.

Days before 5 Nov Walk well before dark, close curtains and windows early, activate masking noise (music or ambient), move dog indoors early, ensure den is accessible.

Night of 5 Nov Stay calm yourself (dogs pick up your emotions), keep the dog in their safe zone, mask noises, maintain gentle touch if they approach you, and above all do not punish or over-comfort in a way that reinforces fear behaviours. Massage and touch therapies work too.
In short, don’t wait until fireworks are happening to begin the work.