As at the end of the year, during football tournaments, such as the World Cup, or on crucial match days, pets can suffer from discomfort from house guardians or neighbours.
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This happens because these celebrations are usually filled with shouting, music, loud noises, horns, fireworks and even fireworks. For humans, this is a great time to cheer on your team, but for dogs and cats, it can be stressful and cause anxiety.
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Richardson Zago, a dog behavior specialist, says that on game days, what he notices most is a very pronounced increase in signs of stress, especially in the dogs. “Animal owners sometimes think it’s cute for an animal to be agitated, but in reality many of them suffer.”
The expert says: “When an animal enters a state of panic, it can behave completely differently than usual.”
Pets don’t celebrate
Richardson explains that these symptoms can appear differently in each type of pet. It is important that every owner can recognize them to treat the animal, especially in cats, where the behaviors are more “silent”. check it out:
dog
- Tremors and rigid muscles.
- The tail is low or between the legs and the ears are stuck back;
- Excessive yawning and licking of the nose and feet.
- Attempts to hide under furniture, in the bathroom, in the bathroom and behind the teacher;
- Excessive vocalization: barking, whining, howling;
- Aimless hyperactivity: walks from side to side, cannot lie down;
- Exaggerated attachment to the teacher: he does not leave his side and tries to climb onto his lap all the time;
- In more serious cases, there may be destructive behaviors (biting the door, trying to dig through the wall) and even aggression due to fear, such as growling or biting if someone tries to restrain them.
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Cats
- Hiding and not coming out under the bed or closet;
- Dilated pupils, contracted ears and body;
- Stay still, keep everything on high alert;
- If you lick too much, it can tear the hair;
- Change in bathroom routine: They may urinate or defecate outside the box due to fear;
- In extreme cases, they may scratch or bite if forced out of hiding.
“These are all ways the animal is saying, ‘I’m not doing well in this environment.’ The point is that it’s not bluff or composure, it’s real fear,” he warns.
What do you do in these cases?
According to the expert, upon realizing that the pet is in this state, the owner must take measures that help the animal and do not cause further fear. “Speak in a normal tone of voice, without screaming or despair. The animal understands our feelings.”
It is also recommended to take the dog or cat to an environment with less stimuli. Without putting pressure on the pet, offering or accepting physical contact, if he seeks it, is also very important. “Direct the focus on something pleasant. Even if he refuses at the height of fear, it is worth gently insisting in the moments when the noise subsides.”
Pets can hide because of fear
Most importantly, avoid situations that exacerbate suffering. “Never fight, scream or punish out of fear. This makes the association worse: in addition to the fireworks and noise, there is now scolding.” On the other hand, forcing an animal to be brave or treating it with pity is also a problem.
“Do not leave him alone in the yard, balcony or outdoor areas,” he comments. “We see many escapes and accidents because the animal is trying to escape from the stimulus that scares it. The idea is to find a compromise between welcoming and not promoting panic: showing the body and the routine that, despite the noise, everything is under control.”
Prevention is the best solution
For professionals, the best course of action is to start preparing the pet and home not just at the time of the match, but a few days before. “The idea is to turn the home into a safe, predictable environment for the animal.”
According to him, there are some measures that are working well. The first is to create a safe haven: a quiet room with objects that reinforce positive stimuli, such as toys. A few days before, the owner must take the animal to the place and establish relationships that make it feel safe, with snacks, for example.
Reinforcements and assemblies are great allies
On game day, prioritizing your routine helps. Keep walking, eat at close to normal times and avoid major changes and agitations at home. Especially at that time, closing doors and windows, turning on the fan, for example, and leaving the TV at a moderate volume helps mask outside noise.
Maybe it’s time to ask for help
Richardson explains that there are some cases where seeing a vet is necessary. “Not every animal will need medication, but there are cases where the fear is so intense that medical support is necessary and ethical, because the animal is truly suffering.”
- The pet goes into a state of panic when there are fireworks, screaming, or intense noise.
- There are worrying physical signs: increased salivation, constant tremors, tachycardia, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite these days;
- The animal is hurt while trying to escape or hide;
- The fear is so great that he spends hours unable to relax, lie down, or drink water.
- There was a history of escape or accident on previous dates.
According to him, a professional can suggest the occasional use of anxiolytics or tranquilizers on more important playing days, but always with the correct prescription and dosage. Furthermore, a longer protocol, combining desensitization and counterconditioning, can be used, especially in cases of phonophobia.
He concludes: “Medicine does not replace training and management, but it can be an ally so that the animal does not suffer and for behavioral rehabilitation exercises. It should never be decided by the owner, let alone by human medicine. Each one has its own weight, history, possible underlying diseases and drug interactions that need to be evaluated.”