Bonfire night is not the only day to be cautious of fireworks, with the whole month seeing an increased prevalence of these mini explosives. Fireworks are a class of low explosive pyrotechnic devices that contain many different ingredients; in most cases, the exact composition of ingested fireworks is unknown. Most domestic fireworks, used or unused, do not contain sufficient chemicals to cause more than mild, self-limiting gastrointestinal upset. There is a potential risk of metal toxicity, but this is rare. Professional display fireworks are more of a danger to animals (although these are likely to be banned this year due to current events), and can cause more significant signs.
Sparklers will generally only cause gastrointestinal upset also; toxicity is not expected as the quantity of chemicals present is small. There is also a risk of burns from recently used sparklers or fireworks.
Most animals can be observed at home, although the VPIS can advise on specific treatment for animals with clinical signs. Activated charcoal is not recommended as it does not adsorb metals (the toxic component of fireworks).
