Why are pets scared of fireworks?

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Fireworks are an integral part of many celebrations and cultural events. With their pretty colors, spectacular sights and big bangs, fireworks are a popular attraction for many people.

For many animals, however, fireworks are a source of fear and anxiety. While we humans can understand what is happening and why, pets, livestock and wildlife have no appreciation of the significance or purpose of fireworks. Instead, fireworks are unpredictable, loud and visually startling.

They also release toxic compounds into the environment, while litter and debris can create additional hazards. So why are fireworks so frightening for our pets, and what can we do to help them cope with the flashes and bangs? Here is a guide to supporting your pet before, during and after firework season.

Fireworks are completely unpredictable, and their sights and sounds can provoke a startle response in both people and animals. This is when a sudden, strong stimulus causes the body to freeze, muscles to contract and the body to prepare for a potential threat. If you have ever been surprised by a sudden loud bang, such as a car backfiring, you will have experienced the startle response and understand how unpleasant it can feel.

Now imagine being unable to work out where the sound came from or why it happened, and you can appreciate how many animals experience fireworks. We might know that our neighbor has a mini backyard display planned, or that there is a local community event, but our pets do not. Advances in firework technology have also resulted in louder and more spectacular fireworks.

This is one reason why distress among pets and their owners around firework displays is increasingly recognized. For animals, fireworks are an extreme stimulus. Repetitive, unpredictable and dramatic sights and sounds can trigger a prolonged startle response, leading to further behavioral reactions, often described as firework fears or phobias.