4th of July Firework Fear

[42many]

My 9yo Black Lab has always been terrified of loud noises like fireworks and popping balloons (you should see him run & hide behind my 3yo son!! :)).

Isn't there something you can give them to calm the nerves that doesn't need a vet prescription?

I don't usually give him anything because where we used to live the problem was there but pretty far away. He'd basically just spend the night hiding and Granny & Grandpa's room. Here at the new place, though, I'm told by my husband (who was here 4th of July last year while I was with dog & kids at the old place) that they are fantastic and close and will be terrifying for him.

Ideas?

[gabhainn]

Give him an otc benadryl, 1 12.5 tab for 40 lbs of body weight I think double check w/ the vet fpr dosage, but I am pretty sure thats right my 90 lb lab got bit by a spider and the vet said 2 benadryl, and he slept like a log........Kevin

[WashingtonBay]

Our 90 pound dog eats 6-8 Benadryl every day, and it doesn't put him to sleep.

He's also our most nervous dog, and for the 4th of July, he gets Ace, from the vet. It's prescription, but it's not expensive. I give two Ace tabs to Homer and one to our other dog who barks at the fireworks, to knock them out so we can have peace to and tend the horses for the worst fireworks nights.

[elevenelevenxo]

I second the 12.5mg Benedryl. Ask your vet first so that you can be sure the dosage you're going to give is the correct one - but I believe 1-2 will work. Again, double check with your vet. That should make him pretty sedate....but if it doesn't, your vet can give you tranquilizers to give him. The Benedryl will take up to an hour to kick in, so just give it a while in advance, and you can repeat every 12 hours as needed.

There is also a product called "Comfort Zone" on the market - kind of pricey and I have doubts on how well it works...though I've heard both good things and bad. Personally, I've never tried it. But it's supposed to omit calming pheramones that will comfort your pet. I haven't tried it because of the price and I don't want to pay that much incase it doesn't work....but if that sounds like something up your alley, that might be an option. :)

[42many]

Thanks all! I'll give my a vet a call Monday and see if Benadryl sounds good to her or if I should try for Ace or something like the Comfort Zone thing...

[vicklynn]

Ya benadryl for sure. I used to give my 40lb cockapoo 1 or 2 a day. Calms them, but dosnt hurt them.

[Vegashorselady]

My collie/shepard mix, Casey, is terrified of fireworks. One year she tried to dig a hole in the wall, no joke. Last year the pharmacist suggested we give her a valium. 2 valiums later she was still wide awake, panting and pacing around. At least she wasn't trying to dig through the walls and furniture though.

[Mountain Creek]

My 13 year old Lab mix use to be terrified of fireworks and thunderstorms but she's deaf now. It might sound mean but its a wonderful thing!

Hannah who is 1.5 years old all of sudden decided that she is afraid of fireworks and thunderstorms now too. Thankfully with her I can put her in her crate and she settles right down.

Hope everyone stays safe this 4th of July!

[WashingtonBay]

I'd PAY to have my Homer go deaf.

I really would!

And not just for the 4th... for any dang gunshot or backfire or thunder he hears...

Vegas I'd ask your vet about Ace... I think it would be stronger than Valium.

[Petra]

Ahh I think I prefer the scared dogs! My silly Gracy would try to attack the fireworks. I have to lock her up so she doesn't get her mouth burnt. Jack Russels are so weird - they are little, but don't know what fear is.
Not sure what Jack will do - he was still a little pup last year. Zeus and Emily have more brain - they are old and just ignore it.

I heard on radio today that it's a good idea to get name tags for the dogs in case they get scared and run off. They also suggested putting the scared ones in the house, and putting a TV or radio on for them to distract them from the loud noise coming from the outside.

[WashingtonBay]

We have one that would run away, and one that would run toward.

We usually have our hands full with the horses, so we try to just get the dogs knocked out to sleep through it...

I consider myself a patriot, but I REALLY hate the 4th of July.

[WashingtonBoy]

I consider myself a patriot, but I REALLY hate the 4th of July.I don't hate the 4th of July per se, just the way it's celebrated.

As Apu on the Simpsons said, "Celebrate your country's independence by blowing up a small part of it."

[miatapony]

be calm you can buy it from any pet store .... give it a try ...

[Vegashorselady]

I'd PAY to have my Homer go deaf.

I really would!

And not just for the 4th... for any dang gunshot or backfire or thunder he hears...

Vegas I'd ask your vet about Ace... I think it would be stronger than Valium.

I'll have to look into that for next year. Last night someone in the neighborhood let off a firework and Casey tried to climb under the tv stand...she didn't fit. I'll tell yah though, if there is ever an earthquake that dog has "duck and cover" down.:rolleyes:

[42many]

I heard on radio today that it's a good idea to get name tags for the dogs in case they get scared and run off. They also suggested putting the scared ones in the house, and putting a TV or radio on for them to distract them from the loud noise coming from the outside.

Good idea indeed! I rescued a dog on the road once that turned out to be an older pooch who was terrified of thunderstorms. When the thunder hit while her owners were at work, she dug out of the back yard and ran off. I found her rain-drenched and standing in the middle of the road with cars swerving around her. Fortunately, when I got out and called to her she came running and jumped into the car!

I called the vet and she recommended Benadryl or Rx depending on just how bad he gets. I think I'll try Benadryl this time - I hate to give heavy meds if I don't have to. He doesn't actually DO anything, he just cowers near you the whole night with his tail between his leg. Anytime fireworks go off he scrunches hard against you with little whines.

[WashingtonBay]

Homer leaps in your lap and claws at you... And he's about 90 pounds. And if you try to reason with him, or settle him down... there's just no reaching him... you can tell in his eyes. - He's in a blind panic.

He's our pansy dog... absolutely useless in any crisis.
He gets knocked out now.

4186


Gidget, our Alpha dog... is more aggressive and barking about it... and if that's all we had to deal with, it's harmless enough, unless it's midnight and we've already tried to go to bed...

4187

Barkley, our beagle, curiously enough, could care less about the fireworks.

[AUEquine]

I'd give the Benadryl a try first. Go ahead and give the dog a dose today and just see how it affects it. If it sleeps, do it again tomorrow. If not, call the vet. This will help avoid the stress of a drug not working. Also be sure to give the drug long enough before the fire works start. If you wait til they start the dogs adrenaline will have a counteractive effect on some drugs.

As far as valium vs. ace. Valium (diazapam) is a much much much stronger drug, the issue may have been a dosage thing. But 1 mL of vailum knocks a 75lb foal out cold for close to an hour. Where as 1 mL of ace and I'll still ride the horse!

I hope Abby does ok with fireworks. I doubt there will be any out at the new place, but there will probably be plenty of redneck fireworks (guns shot in the air). I really wish I had a barn to put Fiddler in, I'm terribly afraid of falling bullets.