Fireworks may be thrilling for us, but they can be terrifying for dogs. I know the pain as the owner of Myst. The loud, unpredictable sounds trigger intense anxiety in Myst, leading to trembling, pacing, and panting. I am doing a series of blogs on what I do and why to help her stay calm over the fireworks season and hopefully stop Taz from developing the same fears.
1. Why Fireworks Scare Dogs
Dogs experience fireworks very differently from humans. The sudden, loud explosions trigger their heightened sense of hearing and can cause confusion and fear. Dogs often don’t understand what’s happening and may associate the sounds with danger, resulting in stress, panting, whining, or even trying to escape.
2. Chewing is a Natural Calming Mechanism
Chewing is an instinctual behaviour that serves multiple purposes, from cleaning teeth to entertainment. But in moments of anxiety, such as during fireworks, chewing can become a natural self-soothing behaviour. The repetitive action of chewing helps relieve tension and anxiety, providing your dog with a way to cope with their stress. Not all dogs will chew when they are stressed. However, we as owners know what is likely to cause stress and can encourage chewing before they are in full breakdown mode, and this will limit the stress and help reduce the effect or reaction.
3. Chewing Helps Release Serotonin
When a dog chews, their brain releases serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and promote feelings of calmness and well-being.
Serotonin is a key neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, behaviour, and anxiety in dogs. It contributes to emotional balance and plays a significant role in reducing anxiety by promoting feelings of calm and well-being
Serotonin is produced in both the brain and the gastrointestinal system. It regulates mood, appetite, and emotions in dogs. Balanced serotonin levels promote a sense of well-being and reduce anxiety by counteracting stress hormones like cortisol.
Serotonin is a chemical messenger between nerve cells. In dogs, it influences emotional responses, enabling them to process and react to stressful situations more calmly.
Calming Effect: Elevated serotonin levels are linked to calmness and reduced anxiety. Serotonin inhibits the release of stress hormones, which helps dogs stay calm in the face of anxiety triggers such as fireworks, separation, or new environments.
Inhibits Panic Responses: Serotonin helps suppress the brain's panic response, preventing dogs from overreacting to anxiety-inducing stimuli. This helps reduce behaviours like excessive barking or destructive chewing.
Regulates Impulsivity: Dogs with healthy serotonin levels show fewer anxious or impulsive behaviours. Serotonin improves emotional stability, helping dogs cope better in stressful circumstances.
Mental and Physical Engagement
Chewing provides both mental stimulation and physical engagement, which are crucial during stressful events like fireworks. By giving your dog something to focus on, you redirect their attention away from the frightening sounds and into a calming activity. This can help prevent destructive behaviours and reduce overall anxiety.
During firework season it is not always easy to get your dogs out and about. Yes, we can all get out and walk them at silly o’clock in the morning, but that then means that they have all day to sleep and recover. Yes, I do walk my dog at silly o’clock.
We can provide fun and exciting ways to get our dogs chewing. This will help with mental engagement. Mental stimulation can have the same effect as a good long walk.
How to get them chewing
1. Fun toys. Most dogs love a squeaky toy. There are so many options. Cuddly toys, stuffing less, or hardwearing rubber ones. I know squeakier can be annoying and loud, but it is a small price to pay for a happy dog or at least that’s what I tell myself.
2. Natural chews Air-dried natural treats are a great option for giving your dog a treat and making them feel special. There are so many options and sizes, and they can be low-cost.
3. Change the way that you feed.
Trachea stuffed with their dinner - this makes an edible Kong.
West Paws Toppl or lickimat yoggie pot instead of their normal bowl. This means that they need to work a little for their dinner.
Change their bowl to a bowl that encourages them to eat slower.
4. Add a lickimat to their day. You can add loads to these. Yogurt, dog friendly pate, bone broth or their normal meat.
Chewing isn’t just a way for dogs to pass the time; it’s a powerful tool to help them cope with anxiety. During fireworks, giving your dog something safe and engaging to chew on can help transform their experience from one of fear and stress to a moment of calm and comfort. So, the next time those loud booms light up the sky, you can feel confident knowing that a simple chew toy might be the key to turning your dog’s fright into delight.
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