The Morning After Fireworks Night: Hidden Dangers for Dogs This Autumn

The fireworks have fizzled out, the bonfires have cooled, and the smell of smoke still lingers in the air.

Bonfire Night might be over — but for dogs, the real trouble often starts the next day.

Every year in the UK, the days following fireworks night see an increase in vet visits. Why? Because our curious four-legged friends go sniffing through the leftovers — and some of it can be surprisingly dangerous.

Whether you’ve got a big garden, walk your dog in local parks, or just let them out for a quick wee, there are hidden hazards everywhere after Bonfire Night.

In this post, we’ll go through what to watch for, what to do if your dog eats or licks something suspicious, and how to make your garden a safe, calm place again.

1. Spent Fireworks: Bright, Tempting, and Toxic

After the celebrations, parks and pavements are often littered with used fireworks. To us, they look like rubbish — but to a dog’s nose, they smell like smoke, sulphur, and burnt paper… which can be fascinating.

Unfortunately, they’re also very dangerous.

What’s inside spent fireworks:

• Gunpowder residue (contains sulphur, potassium nitrate, and charcoal)

• Heavy metals (used to make colours — like copper, lead, or barium)

• Plastic and cardboard pieces

• Sharp splinters or wires

If your dog licks, chews, or eats even part of a used firework, they could get:

• Mouth burns or irritation

• Vomiting or drooling

• Diarrhoea

• Seizures or tremors (in severe poisoning cases)

What to do:If you see your dog sniffing or chewing a burnt firework, remove it straight away and call your vet for advice. Don’t wait for symptoms.

Prevention tip:The morning after Bonfire Night (and for a few days after), do a quick sweep of your garden before letting your dog out. Bring a bag and gloves, and dispose of any burnt materials you find.

2. Bonfire Ash, Charcoal, and Burnt Wood

Bonfires might look harmless once they’ve cooled, but they leave behind all sorts of risky stuff for dogs.

The hidden dangers:

• Ashes can contain toxic chemicals if treated wood or painted furniture was burned.

• Charcoal or soot can upset their stomachs if eaten.

• Nails, screws, and glass sometimes hide in the ashes from old furniture or rubbish.

• Sharp splinters can get stuck in paws or mouths.

Even if the fire’s cold, dogs love to sniff around smoky areas — especially Labradors and other scent-driven breeds. The smell of food, wood, and earth is irresistible!

Tip:If your neighbours had a bonfire, avoid walking near it for a few days. And if you had one yourself, keep your dog away from the pile until you’ve completely cleared it and checked for sharp debris.

3. Bonfire Night Food Leftovers: Tempting but Toxic

Hot dogs, chocolate, kebabs, marshmallows…Bonfire Night is full of snacks, and the ground is often full of dropped bits the next day.

Unfortunately, many of these are bad for dogs:

Food	Why It’s Dangerous
Chocolate	Contains theobromine — poisonous for dogs
Onions & garlic	Damages red blood cells
Corn on the cob	Can cause blockages if swallowed whole
Skewers & sticks	Splinters can pierce throat or stomach
Cooked bones	Brittle and can shatter
Sweets	May contain xylitol (artificial sweetener) which is highly toxic

Dogs are scavengers by nature — even well-trained ones. A leftover sausage or sticky wrapper can seem like a great find.

Keep an eye out during walks in parks or after parties. Carry a small torch if you walk your dog in the evenings; it’s amazing what you’ll spot when you can actually see the ground!

4. Glow Sticks and Sparklers

Kids love glow sticks, and they often end up on the grass after a night of fireworks.

They’re not usually deadly, but they contain a bitter-tasting liquid (dibutyl phthalate) that can cause:

• Drooling

• Foaming at the mouth

• Pawing at the face

• Vomiting

The liquid glows because of a chemical reaction — and if a dog bites into one, the taste is so unpleasant it usually spits it out straight away. But it can still cause irritation.

If this happens:

• Rinse your dog’s mouth with cool water.

• Offer milk or water to rinse the taste away.

• Call your vet if your dog keeps drooling or vomiting.

As for sparklers, even once they’re burnt out, they stay hot for ages and can cause mouth or paw burns. Treat them like glass — collect them and bin them safely.

5. Firework Debris in Grass and Soil

Even if you can’t see debris, bits of plastic, cardboard, and metal from fireworks often get blown into gardens and fields. Rain and wind spread them far and wide.

Some dogs dig or chew the grass, especially if they smell something new — and that’s how they can end up eating small fragments without you noticing.

If your dog starts coughing, gagging, or suddenly refuses food, it’s worth checking their mouth for foreign objects. Sometimes it’s just grass… but sometimes it’s a burnt fuse or sharp bit of casing.

6. Wildlife and Bonfire Piles

Before Bonfire Night, piles of wood can become temporary homes for hedgehogs, frogs, and mice. Afterward, if the fire wasn’t fully burned, dogs might go exploring the remains and come face-to-face with frightened wildlife or sharp debris.

If you’ve had a bonfire in your garden, clear it away completely rather than leaving it to flatten over time. Not only does that make your garden safer — it keeps it cleaner, too.

7. Why Garden Cleanliness Matters After Fireworks Night

Firework residue, food scraps, and animal waste all mix together this time of year — and that’s a recipe for bacteria, smells, and pests.

Even a few small bits of leftover rubbish can attract rats and foxes, who then leave droppings that carry diseases like leptospirosis. Dogs can catch that by sniffing or licking contaminated soil or puddles.

That’s why keeping the garden clean isn’t just about tidiness — it’s about dog health and hygiene.

At Puppypal, we often see more waste build-up in November because people spend less time outside. But dogs still go out there every day — and they’re the ones most exposed to what’s left behind.

A regular pooper-scooper visit keeps the garden fresh, clear, and safe for your dog, especially when there’s other debris in the mix from autumn and fireworks season.

8. Helping Your Dog Feel Calm Again

Even if you’ve cleaned up the hazards, your dog might still be feeling nervous from the fireworks. Here’s how to help them reset emotionally:

Create a calm zone

Give them a cosy space indoors — somewhere quiet, away from windows. A familiar blanket and one of your old jumpers can make them feel secure.

Keep to a routine

Dogs feel safer when life is predictable. Stick to normal feeding and walk times.

Use sound to comfort them

Soft music or a low TV volume can mask outdoor noises that still make them jump.

Reward calm behaviour

When your dog relaxes, give them gentle praise or a treat. This helps them link calmness with positive feelings.

Be patient

Some dogs take longer than others to recover. Try not to fuss too much — act normal, stay calm, and they’ll follow your lead.

9. The Firework-Aftermath Garden Checklist

Before you let your dog out tomorrow morning, run through this simple checklist:

1. Check the grass, flowerbeds, and fences for any firework debris

2. Look for plastic sticks, cardboard tubes, and sparkler wires.

3. Remove any leftover food, packaging, or litter.

4. Rake out bonfire ash — especially if painted wood was burned.

5. Make sure no wild animals are hiding in the remains.

6. Clear dog waste (it mixes with rain and attracts pests quickly).

A clean garden means peace of mind — and a happier, healthier dog.

10. The Big Picture: Enjoy Autumn, But Stay Alert

Autumn in the UK is beautiful — the crunchy leaves, the smell of wood smoke, the cosy evenings. But for dogs, it’s also one of the trickiest times of the year.

Bonfire Night celebrations leave behind more hazards than most people realise. From toxic debris to tempting food scraps, there’s a lot out there that can cause harm if we don’t stay aware.

By checking your walks, cleaning your garden, and giving your dog a calm space to recover, you’ll help them get through the season safely and confidently.

And if you’d rather not deal with the cleanup, Puppy Pal’s here to help keep your garden spotless, no matter the weather.

Because a clean, safe garden means one less worry — and one more wagging tail. 🐾