Managing firework phobias
"It is important for vets to highlight to their clients that fear reactions to fireworks are a serious welfare concern, which are better dealt with in advance of the fireworks season."
A study carried out by the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET) has revealed that too few pet owners seek veterinary help for noise phobias, and those who do get help often do so too late.
The research examined over 100,000 veterinary consultations which took place between September 2012 and July 2014. From this sample, only 75 cases were for firework related phobias. Because fearful reactions to loud noises like fireworks and thunder are common in dogs, and are likely to be an issue in many other animals too, the researchers expected the number of consultations to be higher.
The study was organised by SAVSNET - the surveillance partnership between the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) and the University of Liverpool. The data raises concerns that, even amongst those who do seek help, nearly 50 per cent wait until the week before bonfire night, giving vets very little time to identify the best treatment options.
Rachel Casey, a contributor to the BSAVA position statement on the treatment and management of firework phobias, is not surprised by the results. "This low number, whilst regrettable, is consistent with a previous survey of owners, where less than 30 per cent who reported noise related fears in their dogs sought any veterinary help, and less than half of these went to their vet for advice. It is important for vets to highlight to their clients that fear reactions to fireworks are a serious welfare concern, which are better dealt with in advance of the fireworks season."
The BSAVA suggests that veterinary surgeons advise evidence-based therapies for fear responses, so as to improve the welfare of animals under their care. These would include the use of short-term medication, with anxiolytic and amnesic effects, behavioural management - such as provision of an enclosed place to hide, and the supplementary use of pheromones.
To read the BSAVA's position statement on fireworks, visit: http://www.bsava.com/resources/positionstatements/fireworks
RCVS Knowledge has welcomed Professor Peter Cockcroft as editor-in-chief for Veterinary Evidence. 
