Fireworks: How much sedative for anxious dog

[memoo]

Our dogs is going crazy because of the fireworks. We got some diazepan from the vets and we were told to give her 5mg in the evening.

Unfortuantely 2 hours after giving her a tablet it has had no effect at all, she is still pacing the house barking and crying.

Does anyone know if we can give more, can't get through to the vets!

[RTKangaMummy]

An idea that was on TV thsi week was to put a T shirt on the dog with front legs thru the arms

Quite a tight tshirt so that they can feel it securely

it gives them happy feelings

[memoo]

Thats a good idea kind of like giving them a big long hug

[RTKangaMummy]

exactly what they said

it makes them think about the touch senses rather than the hearing sense

good luck

also pull the curtains and put on tv or music and dance around the house to distract them from what is going on outside

[memoo]

Dog now in DD's old t-shirt! it was worth it for the laugh if nothing else

Have turned tele up and brought her bed in here, the noise of kids is doing a good job of drowning out fireworks

[RTKangaMummy]

deffo brill news ~ hope you have a good evening

[sazzerbear]

those bloody fireworks, dog is in his cage but barking really loudly - I wish they would stop!!!
Let me know if you do up the dosage and if it works, I may have to consider drugs for next year

[amazonianwoman]

It's even worse cos Guy Fawkes is on a Thursday - no doubt it will continue to sound like downtown Beirut tomorrow and Saturday as well

Luckily our 11wk old puppy seems oblivious for now.

Hope your dog is a little more settled.

[sazzerbear]

Our dog was OK the first year then they freaked him out forever!

[robino]

I've just had to give my pooch the maximum dosage allowed - the first tablet did nothing for her. Poor thing's hiding in the kids bedroom right now.

Whilst we're on the subject - has anybody tried those DAP pheromone things to help?

[sazzerbear]

Yes, we tried the DAP stuff last year and didn't make any difference to ours.

[BellaBonJovi]

My old dog has always been terrified but seems better this year - she is on Zylkene (from vet).

I also use the 'Sounds Scary' fireworks CD for weeks beforehand to desensitise them - might be worth a try next year?

Good luck, all.

[sazzerbear]

good advice, thanks bella

[BellaBonJovi]

Have you tried covering your dog's cage, sazzer? Or let him go where he wants (my old girl heads for the bathroom for some reason).

Hope it's all over very soon - poor pets

[ceres]

our dog used to get in the wardrobe!! he seemed to feel more secure in there, i would then put the radio on quite loudly (music station) and this, combined with the diazepam did the trick.

not an issue where we live now thankfully but i had many years of trying to comfort a terrified dog so can sympathise.

is the t shirt helping?! poor thing, it wouldn't be so bad if it was just one night but they go on for ages.

[southeastastra]

poor doggies

[minimu]

Can you buy a noise cd available from most pet shops and start to play it to your dogs now. Then this time next year things will be much better

The CD has sounds of fireworks on it and if to start with you play it really quietly and then have fun with you dog, play with it, maybe feed it. Until the dog is happy with that level of noise then gradually over a period of weeks turn the volumne up until the dog gets used to this level of noise.

Do this very gently and take maybe the year to get to a full volumne. You will need to play daily but it is worth it.

Often firework anxiety can spread to any loud noises and the dogs can get very stresses in day to day live.

But the above does work for the majority of dogs. BUT please go very slowly and keep the noise at the beginning at a level that does not affect the dog at all.