In the last weeks of December, interest in a remedy tends to be at an all-time high on internet research sites: the sedative acepromazine is seen as an alternative to relieving stress for dogs and cats suffering from the bang and lights of fireworks .
These rocket-related annoyances, incidentally, represent a danger to the health of pets: they can bring immediate effects, with leaks, being run over and seizures, or long-term, such as heart, immune and metabolic diseases.
Many times, in an attempt to bring relief to the pet, the owners end up resorting to anesthetic and relaxing remedies. They are seen by tutors as a means to calm the animals at the end of the year, especially at the turn of December 31st and January 1st, in the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The use of these drugs, however, also means a threat to the animals. Without the guidance of a veterinarian, these substances can cause serious side effects.
Acepromazine itself is an example of this: although the animal seems more relaxed and sleepy following receiving the treatment, it still has its senses fully functioning.
That is: in practice, the pet continues to see and hear all the visual and sound stimuli around it. He just can’t react with the expected behaviors, like running, hiding, looking for the owners, barking/meowing…
“We see in practice how self-medication is growing. People find it easy to get these medicines and they give them to the animals with the best of intentions, but they end up putting their health in danger”, warns veterinarian Pedro Parussolo, from Hospital Veterinário Sena Madureira, in São Paulo.
“In addition, the return of the dog or cat to the normal state following acepromazine is not very nice. Some have hallucinations and develop behaviors compatible with a headache”, adds veterinarian Guilherme Soares, professor at Santa Úrsula University, in Rio de Janeiro.
“It is not, therefore, a good alternative to deal with these situations”, adds the expert.
But why are some dogs and cats so afraid of fireworks?
The origins of stress
The lights and noises of fireworks represent a great visual and sound stimulus for several animals.
And these devices are triggered precisely at night, when things tend to be calmer, darker and quieter in nature.
It is also necessary to bear in mind that the vision and hearing of cats, dogs and other species are usually more sensitive than that of human beings. With that, they manage to capture much more stimuli from the environment — and what is a noise for us becomes a noise for other living beings.
Soares points out that the fear of fireworks has genetic and evolutionary roots.
“In the past, animals that fled the noise survived to leave offspring. This didn’t always happen to those who didn’t react the same way, ”she compares.
“The first months of life are also decisive for this: childhood is a critical period. If, as a puppy, the dog had a positive experience with noise, it tends to develop less pathological behavior from then on”, says the veterinarian.
It is worth noting, therefore, that not every dog or cat develops this acute reaction of stress and fear in the face of fireworks. Behavior varies greatly according to each pet.
A review of studies carried out at Centro Universitário São Camilo, in São Paulo, highlights a survey that interviewed 383 dog owners. Of those, 49% said their pets gave some specific response when exposed to noise.
In 96.8% of these cases, the signs were of fear, such as looking for the owners to protect themselves, shaking, hiding, running away or barking.
“Of the dogs that presented noise phobia, 83% were afraid of fireworks, 65% of thunderstorm sounds, 30% of gunshot sounds, 28% of car exhaust sounds, 18% of other environmental noises loud noises and 12% of loud noises on television”, calculates the article.
The impact of this on animal health is well known: the Hospital Veterinário Sena Madureira, for example, observed a 25% increase in the hospitalization of pets during the month of December 2021 due to stress and panic related to rockets and fireworks. of fireworks.
And these nuisances have immediate and long-term consequences.
During noisy events, cats and dogs experience a decrease in well-being and become more aggressive or withdrawn. Some may even experience seizures.
There is a portion of pets that, in desperation, run away from home or jump out of high windows. This also poses a danger, as they can get hurt, get lost or become victims of pedestrians being run over on streets and avenues.
“Over time, the most susceptible animals still suffer from low immunity, heart disease and even metabolism problems related to conditions such as diabetes”, describes Soares.
In the last ten years, all these developments have encouraged campaigns and even changes in the law in several places in Brazil: in the State of São Paulo, for example, it has been forbidden to set off loud fireworks since July 2021.
There are similar projects for the entire country under discussion in the Federal Senate.
What to do?
Soares suggests that tutors start preparing a few months in advance, if possible.
“If you notice that the dog or cat has problems with noise, it is worth seeking an expert three or four months beforehand. [do período de festas]”, advises Soares.
“With this, it is now possible to put training and behavioral changes into practice. In some cases, we also prescribe medication,” he reports.
Let it be clear: as mentioned at the beginning of the report, the use of drugs depends on each case and must always respect the guidance and dosage prescribed by the veterinarian, to minimize the risk of unwanted side effects.
The medications that professionals usually prescribe in these scenarios are not sedatives or anesthetics. The first option comes from the class of anxiolytics, which help to quell anxiety.
For people who mightn’t plan ahead, Parussolo indicates a series of strategies that help at the turn of the year.
The first is to keep the animal in a calmer and more peaceful space in the house, which has the least contact with outside noise. If possible, it is worth leaving some ambient sound at the time of the fireworks – putting on relaxing music or leaving the TV on at low volume are some of the ideas.
“We can also use some headphones developed for animals, which muffle external sound a little”, he adds.
“Some animals feel more comfortable with the presence of guardians. So keeping them company at these times can help them”, says the veterinarian.
When choosing the best room in the house to keep the pets safe from lights and noise, it is also important to pay attention to safety: to avoid leaks or accidents, check that windows and doors are securely closed.
Finally, the veterinarian urges owners to be aware of prolonged symptoms, which indicate something more serious. “If the animals stop eating, drinking water and pooping or peeing for a long time, it is important to carry out an evaluation”, he says.
“New Year’s Eve is a time when most people are happy and celebrating. But we have to think that our party can be a source of distress for other beings that live close to us”, concludes Parussolo.
By Andre Biernath
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