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An Irby vet practice is urging dog owners to prepare now for fireworks season, saying frightened dogs are not simply "making a fuss".
Irby Veterinary Centre says the fear can cause real physical changes in a dog's body.
Dogs can hear sounds about four times further away than people and pick up higher frequencies, so bangs and whistles can be especially unsettling.
Laura Jones, Senior Practice Director, at the practice, told the Wirral Globe: "We experience fireworks knowing exactly what they are, when we're likely to hear them and that they aren't a threat. Our dogs don't have that explanation."
She added that the dogs aren't behaving badly, and these can be a sign of a "very real fear response".
As well as obvious signs like trembling, barking, hiding or trying to escape, the practice says owners should look out for:
- Pacing or panting.
- Refusing food.
- Quietly leaving a room or lying somewhere unusual.
- Wanting more attention than normal.
The practice says research involving 1,225 dogs found that three-quarters of fearful dogs had recovered by the next morning, but 12% took up to a week, and a small number took weeks or months.
Its advice is to:
- Create a safe place your dog can retreat to.
- Close curtains and provide background noise.
- Keep pets indoors while fireworks are going off.
- Let your dog choose how to cope – some want reassurance, others prefer to hide.
Ms. Jones urged owners to be prepared ahead of Bonfire Night and to speak with vets beforehand to ensure your dog is supported on November 5th.
Find out where displays are happening in our Bonfire Night 2026 guide.
