Why Do Pets Fear Fireworks? Here's What’s Really Going On in Their Sense

Fireworks and Bonfire Night might be fun for us. Bright lights, big bangs, celebration. But for our pets? It’s a sensory nightmare.

Every year, animal professionals and owners watch in panic as calm, happy pets suddenly shake, whine, bolt, or hide the moment fireworks start. But have you ever wondered why they react that way?

Let’s break down what’s really going on, and how you can help them feel safe.

👂 Hearing: When Loud Becomes Overwhelming

Our pets hear far more than we ever could. A dog’s hearing range goes up to around 65,000 Hz (ours stops at about 20,000 Hz). Cats can hear even higher! Up to 85,000 Hz.

So while a firework might sound like a loud pop to you, to them it’s like a lightning bolt exploding right beside their head.

That’s why they:

• Shake or tremble when fireworks start

• Bark, howl, or try to escape the noise

• Hide under furniture or in corners

They’re not “being dramatic”, they’re genuinely overwhelmed by sound frequencies that hit them much harder than they hit us.

👃 Smell: Smoke, Sulphur, and Stress

Fireworks fill the air with smoke, chemicals, and burnt powder. To humans, it’s just that “bonfire night smell.” To animals, especially dogs with noses up to 100,000 times more sensitive, it’s so overpowering.

The scent of burning and the chemical residue can trigger fear instincts, because to them it smells like danger or fire. Their body reacts as if there’s an immediate threat. Heart racing, adrenaline pumping, stress levels soaring. Not nice...

👀 Sight: Flashing Lights and Confusion

Imagine bright bursts of light suddenly flashing across the sky. Unpredictable, intense, and impossible to understand. Pets don’t know what fireworks are. They can’t rationalise that “it’s just once a year.”

Those bright flashes and reflections can make them disoriented, especially if they’re outside or near windows. Some will freeze in place, others try to run. Both reactions are instinctive survival responses.

❤️ Emotion and Instinct: Fight, Flight, or Freeze

When you combine terrifying noises, strange smells, and flashing lights, you get one big sensory overload. Their brain goes straight into fight, flight, or freeze mode.

For some, that means bolting, jumping fences, slipping leads, or digging through and under outside fencing. For others, it’s pacing, shaking, hiding, or even showing aggression because they’re scared and confused.

Their body floods with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Even after the fireworks stop, it can take hours (sometimes days) for their system to recover. Sadly, many pets go missing during this time. And some... never return home.

🧠 Why This Matters for Pet Professionals

If you work with pets (as a walker, groomer, sitter, trainer, or daycare provider) understanding this isn’t just “nice to know.” It’s part of your duty of care.

You can’t stop fireworks from happening, but you can prepare and help clients prepare:

• Recognise early signs of stress before panic hits

• Create safe, calm spaces away from windows

• Use background noise to soften the impact

• Support owners with reassurance and education

And most importantly, know how to respond if panic leads to injury, escape, or collapse.

That’s where pet first aid knowledge truly makes the difference.

💬 Now it's over to you

If you’d like to learn more about how fear and stress affect animals (and how to help them stay calm and safe), you’ll love my Pet First Aid Courses.

They’re designed for pet professionals who want to do more than “love animals”. They want to protect them.

📅 Check upcoming courses or message me to host one in your area (hosts go FREE!).

Learn more about fireworks and pets in our pet pro blog cirle HERE