[Animals] How to take care of them? The risks of New Year's celebrations in pets

[FNX Magokiler]

Every year during this holiday season and when loud parties become normal, voices arise asking "Can anyone think of pets?" The concern arises because cats and dogs have greater hearing sensitivity than humans, which is why sounds like fireworks can be much more than just a nuisance.

But what can we do to care for animals? Pablo Gómez, an academic in Veterinary Medicine at the San Sebastián University (USS) and a Master in Ethology and Animal Welfare, clarifies some aspects of noise and its effects on pets.

It's not all fireworks
Beyond the fireworks, the expert calls to consider other factors of the New Year, such as crowds or being exposed to music with too high a volume.

"Like humans, there are animals that become stressed in these environments. Being scared tends to run or flee, and in doing so increases the risk of getting hurt or lost," he warns.

How to detect if my pet has a phobia?
According to the professional, "when a pet reacts disproportionately to the degree of threat represented by the stimulus, in this case noise, we are dealing with a phobia", which differs from fear, since it is already the pathological expression of it.

Pablo Gómez explains that any pet, at any time, can generate a phobia, which is triggered in a context: "The noise itself does not necessarily produce the phobia, but, for example, if a pet is exposed to fireworks inside agglomeration that stresses her, she could start to present phobic reactions to certain sounds".

"Among these (disproportionate) reactions are barking, moaning, standing still, defecating or urinating," he details.

Avoid stress

 

"When a pet is under constant stress, it risks depressing their immune system and making them more prone to disease," Gomez says. In the same way, he adds that this can be seen reflected "in the digestive system through gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting, diarrhea and loss of appetite."

The stress of animals when faced with noises is explained, in addition to their high hearing sensitivity, because they are not used to them. To combat it, "early socialization" is essential: help pets learn these stimuli so that they begin to tolerate certain sounds or give them alternatives for when they are faced with them, Gómez recommends.

Contain and do not reinforce
The USS specialist advises that, when faced with a stress reaction, "if we take the pet in our arms, care for it and say things like the poor thing, we are reinforcing that fear. It is advisable to approach them, accompany them and contain them with actions such as a pat them or telling them 'relax, it's going to be okay.' These sounds similar, but there's a big difference between reinforcing and holding back."

You can set up a "safe zone" at home
For any time of the year, Pablo Gómez advises that there be a "safe zone" in the home, where the cat or dog feels that it is protected.

"The idea is that once the place in the house is defined, for a long period that is the place where we feed, comb, relax or play with our pet. In this way, it will associate the place with good memories and go to it in situations of fear, discomfort or sleepiness", he points out.

If we fail to anticipate the New Year, the scholar recommends that the pet's routine be modified as little as possible that day, so that it receives the year with fewer situations that cause it stress.

 

https://www.cooperativa.cl/noticias/pais/medioambiente/animales/como-cuidarlos-los-riesgos-de-las-celebraciones-de-ano-nuevo-en-las/2022-12-28/171128.html