Diwali and Your Pet: Firecrackers, Smoke and a Calmer Festival

For us, Diwali is lamps, sweets and family. For many dogs and cats, it’s days of sudden bangs, flashes, smoke and strangers at the door – often while they’re expected to carry on as normal.

Dogs hear sounds we can’t and feel the vibration of louder ones, so a firecracker that’s merely loud to us can be overwhelming to them. In Delhi NCR and other big cities, the smoke that follows adds a second problem: air that’s harder on small lungs.

None of this means your pet has to have a bad Diwali. It means planning for it.

Signs your pet is frightened

Fear doesn’t always look like barking. Watch for:

• trembling, panting or drooling when it isn’t hot;
• pacing, hiding under beds or behind furniture;
• trying to escape – scratching at doors, slipping a collar;
• clinging to you, or the opposite, refusing to come out;
• not eating, or accidents in the house;
• in cats: hiding for hours, flattened ears, refusing food.

Before Diwali

Walk early, and tire them out

Crackers usually build through the evening. Walk your dog earlier in the day, finish toilet breaks before dusk, and use play to tire them out so they’re more likely to rest through the noise.

Build a safe den

Choose an inner room away from windows and the street– often a bedroom or bathroom.

• Put their bed, a blanket that smells of you, water and a favourite toy inside.
• Close curtains to cut out flashes.
• A covered crate works well for crate-trained dogs – leave the door open.
• For cats, a high shelf or a covered box gives them the hiding spot they look for.

Let your pet get used to the space a few days before the festival, so it already feels safe.

Mask the noise

Soft background sound – a fan, the television, calm music – takes the edge off sudden bangs. Keep it at a gentle level, not loud.

Make sure they can’t get lost

More pets go missing around festivals than at almost any other time. Check that the collar fits and has an ID tag with your phone number, update microchip details if your pet has one, and keep doors, gates and balcony access closed. A frightened dog can slip a loose collar or squeeze through a gap it would normally ignore.

Talk to your vet early if your pet is very fearful

If your pet has panicked during past festivals, see your vet well before Diwali. They can suggest a plan, and if needed prescribe something suitable. Never give your pet human sedatives or calming medicines– many are dangerous for animals.

During the noise

• Stay calm and stay close. Comforting a frightened pet doesn’t “reward” fear – your calm presence helps.
• Let them hide if that’s what they choose. Don’t drag them out.
• Never punish fearful behaviour – it only adds to the stress.
• Offer a long-lasting chew or a stuffed toy as a distraction.
• Keep pets indoors – never tied outside, on a balcony or in a car during crackers.
• Never take your dog to a cracker-bursting area, even if they seem fine at first.

Smoke, air quality and walks

The days after Diwali often bring heavy smoke and poor air quality, especially in Delhi NCR.

• Keep windows closed when smoke is heaviest, and run an air purifier if you have one.
• Shorten walks on high-pollution days and avoid late-night walks when smoke from the night’s crackers hangs lowest.
• Take extra care with flat-faced breeds (Pugs, Shih Tzus, Bulldogs), puppies, older pets and pets with breathing problems.
• See your vet for coughing, wheezing, laboured breathing or red, watery eyes that don’t settle.

Clean off the residue

Ash, cracker debris and street residue settle on pavements and come home on paws and coats.

• Clean paws after every walk with a no-rinse Paw Cleaner, and check between the toes for debris or small burns.
• Freshen the coat without a full bath using the waterless Dry Foam Shampoo – useful when it’s cold and smoky outside. More in dry bath vs. wet bath.
• Stop your dog eating anything on the street – spent crackers and their debris contain chemicals that are harmful if swallowed.

Around the house

Diyas, candles and lights

• Keep diyas and candles high and out of reach of wagging tails, curious cats and jumping dogs.
• Never leave flames unattended with pets in the room.
• Tuck away electric light wires that puppies and kittens might chew.

Sweets and festive food

Festive snacks aren’t pet food. Keep away from pets:

• chocolate and anything containing it;
• raisins and grapes (often in sweets and dry-fruit mixes);
• sweets or gum with xylitol;
• rich, ghee-heavy or fried food, which can upset the stomach and, in some dogs, trigger pancreatitis;
• onion and garlic, common in savoury snacks.

Tell guests not to feed your pet, and keep gift boxes off low tables.

Decorations and rangoli

Keep pets away from rangoli colours and freshly painted decorations, and watch puppies and kittens around flowers and garlands– some plants and flowers are toxic, especially to cats. If your pet eats something it shouldn’t, call your vet.

Guests

A house full of visitors is stressful for some pets. Let them retreat to their den, and make sure guests close doors behind them.

Community dogs and cats

Street and community animals have nowhere to hide. If you can, leave water and a sheltered corner, avoid bursting crackers near animals, and contact a local animal rescue if you find an injured or terrified animal.

A Diwali checklist