Alnwick vet offers fireworks advice to dog owners ahead of Bonfire Night

Amy Cotter from Alnorthumbria Veterinary Centre has also explained why one dog may sleep through Bonfire Night while another shakes, barks or tries to escape.

Dogs can detect sounds from around four times further away and perceive higher frequencies than humans.

Laboratory research involving dogs with a history of firework sensitivity has also found differences in their autonomic nervous system response when exposed to recorded firework sounds.

Amy, senior clinical director at Alnorthumbria, said: “We experience fireworks knowing exactly what they are, when we're likely to hear them and that they aren't a threat. Our dogs don't have that explanation.

“Imagine suddenly hearing an extremely loud, unpredictable noise when you don't know where it has come from. For some dogs, their body responds as though there is something they need to protect themselves from. These aren't dogs being naughty or overreacting. They can be outward signs of a very real fear response.”

However, she says that fear isn't always as obvious as a shaking dog. Subdued responses can also include pacing and restlessness, panting, quietly leaving a room, choosing an unusual place to lie in, refusing food, and seeking attention.

She says there is evidence to suggest the explanation may lie in a complex combination of genetics, age, health, previous experiences and learning.

Amy added: “Owners sometimes wonder why their new puppy is frightened when their previous dog wasn't, or why two dogs living in exactly the same household react completely differently.

"Fear can also change during a dog's lifetime. So, if a dog suddenly develops a sensitivity to noise when it hasn't been frightened before, I'd recommend taking them to your vet.”

Amy’s top tips: Owners can help frightened dogs by creating a safe place they can retreat to, closing curtains to reduce flashes, providing appropriate background noise, and keeping dogs indoors when fireworks are being let off; Dogs should also be allowed some choice – some may seek reassurance from their owners while others would rather retreat to a familiar hiding place; For dogs with established firework fears, longer-term approaches can include carefully managed desensitisation and counter-conditioning. Veterinary assessment, behavioural support and appropriate anti-anxiety medication can be considered.