Diwali is the time to bond with families, indulge in rituals and have a gala time. But the noise and light can be a terrifying for pets. Vets tell us how to make it a happy Diwali for them too
Sujit Anand with his two-year-old pet Khal Dogo
Pet parents
Sujit Anand, cinematographer, Kharghar
My two-year-old Dogo Argentino named Khal Dogo, is petrified of the loud sounds of dhol and firecracker. So, I create a safe space for him in the house. I make a canopy out of my bedsheets, which creates a safe space for him, as he feels safer in an enclosed space. The idea behind this is to cut down as many external stimuli as possible, which may put him in panic mode. Given the city weather, the canopy can get hot inside so I switch on the air-conditioner for him. Slowly, but surely, he starts feeling relaxed. When he gets overwhelmed, he starts pacing frantically and so I put him on a leash, sit next to him and comfort him. Another trick that has worked for Khal is massaging the area around his ears. It takes time, but he feels relaxed after that. I also make him wear an ear band around his ears that are easily available in the market, as it cuts the noise.
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Lakshmi Varyani,
entrepreneur, Andheri
Lakshmi and Hiten with Whiskey
My pet Whiskey is a 10-year-old boxer, and it has been a learning process for us to understand what works and what doesn’t when the noise, light and people during the festivities overwhelm them. There is a sure shot formula that has worked for him is music. We shut all the windows so that the outside firecracker and traffic noise is reduced and then we put on music that soothes him. Not a lot of people know this, but dogs understand and connect with various genres of music. For Whiskey, trance music works and it’s shocking how much he can immediately relax while listening to it. Besides this, we give him ear muffs that are easily available online. It reduces the external noise to some extent. With this, I also massage around his ears using a calming mist that has surprisingly worked well on him.
Experts’ talk
Dr Prerna Vaswani, veterinary behaviour counsellor, founder and head veterinarian, The PetVet, Churchgate, @thepetvetmumbai
>> Be prepared in advance, in the sense that you can perhaps take your pet on a walk in the morning, when the noise is not at a high decibel level; and feed them before the noise sets in, as they tend to not eat once they feel overwhelmed.
>> If the noise scares them, try to hide somewhere, let them be. It’s okay, as doing that is making them comfortable. If they want to be petted, they would come next to you and snuggle up to you. It’s important to follow their cues.
>> Give them a pee pad or let them use the bathroom for these festive days, instead of walking them out.
>> Switch the air-conditioner on and close the curtains, so that the external noise and light can be cut down.
Try playing white noise or pink noise, which drowns out other sounds.
>> There are some supplements that contain ingredients such as L-theanine, L-tryptophan, etc., which reduce their level of anxiety. Give it to them after consulting a qualified veterinarian.
Dr Henna Ganjwala, exotic animal and bird veterinarian, founder of Critter Care Veterinary Clinic, Andheri and Mahim, @crittercare veterinary
>> Pets like birds, reptiles, turtles, tortoises, rabbits, hamsters and guinea pigs are also affected by the noise from fireworks.
>> Keep all these pets as far away as possible from the window so that the noise doesn’t rattle them and they don’t inhale the smoke. Keep their enclosures or cages away from the windows too.
>> Play Calm my pet music that is available on YouTube. This will relax them. This is a very soft, beautiful piano music and will soothe their nerves.
>> Be around them and comfort them. The emotional support will relax them to a certain level.
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