Plan ahead for your furry friends this Diwali

Thursday is the Hindu festival of Diwali.

Enjoyed by Hindus all over the world, it is a glorious celebration of light that honours the victory of good over evil and light over darkness.

The event is often celebrated with the use of fireworks, and when not used in moderation, they can be seriously harmful to our furry friends.

Inspector Debbie Kegel of the Randburg SPCA talked to the Randburg Sun about how residents could keep their dogs calm and reduce the anxiety and stress that fireworks might cause.

Kegel explained, “Dogs have four times more than normal hearing than humans. Dogs can hear higher pitched sounds and can detect a frequency range of 67 to 45 000Hz compared to humans (64 – 23000Hz).

“This is why they are more sensitive to the noise of fireworks as well as the visual effect, which may traumatise an animal.”

She said the time around Diwali was particularly difficult for the SPCA because of this.

Kegel shared this advice on how to care for your family pet if they are suffering from trauma:

• If possible keep your animals indoors. Preferably with curtains closed and radio or TV on as a distraction
• If your pet is of an extremely anxious nature, she suggests you consult your vet for further assistance
• There are many herbal remedies on the market specifically for anxiety issues. Please, however, check with your vet prior to administering any form of medication
• If possible, try to stay at home or utilise a reliable pet sitter during any fireworks event. This can avoid unfortunate accidents. For example, an animal jumping over fences and causing injury to the animal.

By using this advice provided by the SPCA, you can ensure that you and your pets do not have a troublesome Diwali.

Remember, if you see a stray pup in trouble, the SPCA encourages you to call their hotline on 011 462 1610 or visit the Randburg SPCA at 229 Northumberland Avenue, North Riding, Randburg.

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