Last year’s Diwali festival turned out to be a nightmare for most pet owners. The high decibels of noise due to firecrackers and the air pollution during the week took a toll on city pets and their owners.
“It is mostly during Diwali that we see a number of lost dog cases. It is because pets get petrified of the sound and try to flee. Hence, pet owners should ensure their pets have a name tag with contact details for safety. Having said this, the air pollution has also been very alarming, thus causing major problems for pets,” said Manjiri Patwardhan, pet owner and an animal activist.
A number of city vets said that Diwali is one of the busiest times for them. From burn cases to panic attacks, they see a rise in the number of pets being brought to them for treatment during Diwali.
“Every year, we get calls from pet owners asking for ways to calm their pets. These calls are because of the increasing number of firecrackers being burst during the festival. We request pet parents to either start medication before the festival or ensure they are kept indoors,” said Dr Gulshan Surty, a veterinarian.
Another vet, Dr Amod Kale said, “Fear is a natural instinct and although we are conditioned to sound, our pets and animals are not. Hence, it is very important that we keep them indoors during noisy times. You should schedule their walks, too, when the sound nuisance is at the minimum or at the lowest. Herbal medicine Azxocare helps soothe and calm them.”
{{/usCountry}}Another vet, Dr Amod Kale said, “Fear is a natural instinct and although we are conditioned to sound, our pets and animals are not. Hence, it is very important that we keep them indoors during noisy times. You should schedule their walks, too, when the sound nuisance is at the minimum or at the lowest. Herbal medicine Azxocare helps soothe and calm them.”
{{/usCountry}}Gulshan Surty said there are herbal and homeopathy medications that can be administered before the festive season. “We have many good and safe medications that may not take away the fear completely, but keep pets safe. It is also important to visit your vets before administering any drugs. The earlier the better.”
Certain Bach or flower medicines are among those recommended. Dr Lochana Baney said that sedatives don’t work very well nor do anxiolytics. Anti-anxiety allopathic drugs like Clozepam and Alprazolem are also used to help pets, but these have limited success in comparison to counter–conditioning. Some ayruvedic medicines, such as Mentat / Axerion, are widely used and should be administered 15 days prior to the festive season. Bach flower calming remedy should be applied on your pet’s forehead to reduce anxiety, Dr Baney added.