Koda used to throw himself at the window, desperate to get away from the noise. The only thing I could think of was to put him in the car and drive. We’d go anywhere, just to get away from the bangs.
It hadn’t always been like that. When I first got Koda as a pup, he’d sit on the deck next to me and we would watch the fireworks together. I loved it, and so did he. Then, as he got older, it all changed.
Fireworks are loud, repeated and unpredictable, and that combination can easily turn a bit of fear into a full-blown phobia. That’s what happened to Koda. His fear became so intense that he would hurt himself trying to escape. It was pure torture to watch, and I felt helpless.
I didn’t know about homeopathy back then, so I didn’t have this option. But you do. If I had known then what I know now, I would have done things very differently.
Fireworks season is nearly here, so now is the time to get ready, not the night of.
Book an acute consult online and we’ll find the right homeopathic remedy for your animal before the first bang.
How homeopathy can support your animal
Homeopathy can help support animals through fireworks by easing stress, anxiety and fear and bringing them back into balance. Many homeopathic remedies can support animals with fear and anxiety brought on by fireworks, but these are the six I reach for most often.
Which remedy is my animal?
😱 The Panic. Sudden. Inconsolable. Fears they might actually die. → Aconite
🐾 The Pacer. Checking out the room. Only small sips of water. → Arsenicum
🏃 The Hider. Flooded by sights and sounds. Runs for cover. Trembles. → Phosphorus|
🫥 The Shrinker. Looks like they want the floor to swallow them up. → Gelsemium
🚪 The Escape Artist. No regard for their own safety. Hates being restricted. → Argentum Nitricum
💦 The Drooler. Thrown by noise and sudden movement. Lots of salivation. → Borax
The remedies in more detail⬇️
Aconite
These animals are over-sensitive to noise and easily startled. Their panic comes on suddenly and intensely, and they feel very vulnerable. Aconite is a great remedy for horses, as they tend to startle and move into panic mode very easily, especially thoroughbreds. They can be inconsolable, because they fear that they may actually die.
Arsenicum
These are the anxious, insecure animals who can’t stand being left alone. They’ll be the ones checking out the room and pacing. They may even want a drink, but only small sips. They panic quickly and demand your attention, but reassurance never quite settles them.
Phosphorus
A good all-round remedy for noise phobias. These animals are restless, nervous and fearful, startle at sudden sounds, and may not want to be touched. When they’re flooded by visual and auditory stimuli, they’ll run for cover and tremble.
Gelsemium
Think trembling caused by fear or fright. These animals can be very timid and terrified, and some even lose bladder control. They shrink into themselves, as if they want the floor to swallow them up.
Argentum Nitricum
These animals can’t bear to be alone and can become impulsive and unpredictable. They are the ones who wait, wound tight, for the next “bang”. They have no regard for their own safety and will not want to be restricted at all.
Borax
Over-sensitivity to noise and sudden movement is very noticeable in the Borax animal. Any change that disturbs their peace can cause alarm, or the opposite, make them withdraw. They can be very indecisive, especially if their owner isn’t clear about what they expect of them. You’ll often see lots of salivation. These animals may also suffer from motion sickness, with rocking and swaying movement bringing it on.
Get your remedies a week before
Order your remedies at least a week before fireworks start. Don’t leave it to the last minute, because courier delivery and choosing the right one both take time.
Most of you already know how your animal reacts to fireworks. If that’s you, you can get ahead of it and start dosing at sunset, before the noise begins. The key is making sure you have the right remedy. If you’re not sure how your animal will respond, you can start dosing as soon as you see how they’re reacting.
Here’s the part many people don’t expect: the remedy that suits your animal at the start of the night may not be the one they need by the end of it. Symptoms can change. An animal who starts out trembling might become restless and clingy as the night goes on, and that can mean a different remedy. This is why selecting a remedy well matters and why having the guidance on hand makes such a difference.
My Fireworks Support e-book walks you through exactly this: how to match the remedy to your animal, the golden rule of dosing and how to tell if your animal is or isn’t responding to the remedy.
Tips for the night
For all animals
Keep them indoors and stay with them if you can.
Give them a safe place to hide and let them use it.
Close the windows and curtains at night to muffle the noise and the flashing lights.
Put on some music or the TV to even out the sound.
Give them a bone, chew or favourite toy to keep them busy.
Dogs and cats
Make sure they can reach their hiding spot at all times, such as under furniture or in a wardrobe.
Walk dogs in daylight and keep dogs and cats inside once fireworks are likely.
Give cats some catnip.
Paddock animals
Ask your neighbours not to set off fireworks, or to set them off away from your paddock.
Keep your animals in a safe, familiar paddock they know well, with room to move if they do panic.
On the day fireworks are expected, add suitable homeopathic remedies to their troughs to help them stay calm.
Don’t wait until the night
Koda didn’t have this option. Your animal does.
Book an acute consult online and we’ll find the right remedy for your animal, wherever you are.
Or grab the Fireworks Support e-book and have this on hand to refer to as and when needed.
