To suggest that firework phobias in dogs are more manageable than you might think

[Veterinari]

Every Bonfire night/Christmas/New year there are threads on this.

Most dog owners will know the basics:
Behave normally, have the radio on
Ensure dog has a safe dark comfortable den to hide in
Offer reassurance - you cannot reinforce fear
Long walk during the day to tire out followed by a good feed - more likely to be content and less reactive
Distract with licki mats/frozen kong etc

But also:
Get your dog checked for chronic painful disease - arthritis and dental disease are common and noise phobias are strongly correlated with chronically painful conditions. Treating the pain has been shown to reduce noise phobias (and is good for welfare)
Start firework desensitisation therapy using apps played at low volume or the 'sounds scary' resource.

Use appropriate medication:
Speak to your vet - sileo and pexicon are the licensed medications and can be game changing
Also pain relief if there's an underlying painful condition.

For milder anxieties supplements like zylkene, yucalm etc may help - again speak to your vet or behaviourist.

Adaptil (pheromone) alone is unlikely to make any difference in a phobic dog. Genuine panic/phobia usually needs medication

Thunder shirts and other complementary approaches can be helpful for some dogs but the response varies

@PlatinumBrunette

My dog is at absolute peak stress tonight after a week of it. (She has noise issues anyway, for other reasons). We are at Sileo level, and I thought that wasn't working until I discovered DH was just giving her mini-doses as 'it's expensive' 😡. I made him give her the full dose last night and it worked a treat. Turns out that was the last of the tube. Now we can't get any more until monday at the earliest. He's getting angry at her stress FFS.

Aargh!

Well done @PlatinumBrunette for correcting him.

It is expensive but it works well. If it's really not affordable for you speak to your vet about trazadone or other anxiolytics they may be willing to consider prescribing off-license

Of course I’m aware of the link between chronic pain and noise phobia. The dog gets very expensive medication already and I just paid over £200 for a dental in the last month .

Do you like to patronise everyone?

@Kcar

Of course I’m aware of the link between chronic pain and noise phobia. The dog gets very expensive medication already and I just paid over £200 for a dental in the last month .

Do you like to patronise everyone?

As I've clearly said, many dog owners don't have access to peer reviewed research. As most vets aren't always great at diagnosing chronic pain (approx 60%of referrals to behaviourists by vets have a painful underlying condition that was missed by the vet) then I do not think it's patronising to make this link explicit.

If you choose to take it as such that's up to you. You're also free to leave the thread if you find it unhelpful and don't want to engage constructively, answer any questions or, try to work together to address your dog's anxiety 🤷‍♀️

Agree with other posters OP, thank you for your suggestions but its not just dogs. Its birds, cows, horses, sheep, foxes, badgers - even bloody mice suffer from the trauma we inflict on them. Not to mention vulnerable people who get distressed.

I had thought that most people were just thoughtless, but after some of the threads on mn the last few days I'm beginning to despair....

I work together with the professionals who know my animal in real life.

Isn’t it against professional standards to diagnose over the internet?

@Warpdrive

Agree with other posters OP, thank you for your suggestions but its not just dogs. Its birds, cows, horses, sheep, foxes, badgers - even bloody mice suffer from the trauma we inflict on them. Not to mention vulnerable people who get distressed.

I had thought that most people were just thoughtless, but after some of the threads on mn the last few days I'm beginning to despair....

Oh I agree - but I didn't start a thread discussing the impacts of fireworks in wildlife/wider society/whatever. I started a very specific thread to address a common dog welfare issue, because as I've said very clearly several times already, i can't really help with those wider issues. Try your MP.

And yes. It’s horses, cows, sheep - all animals.

Not just dogs and cats.

@JayAlfredPrufrock

How about quiet fireworks?

EXACTLY 💯

How marvellous of you to come and condescend to us animal owners. I'm sick of being some of the downright nasty threads on here. As Warpdrive has said there are other animals out there that suffer badly. Horses, sheep, wildlife. I was outside at one point on Wednesday when it all started and my hedge was full od sparrows all squaking away. I felt so sorry for them. I guess a box under the stairs would be just right for a horse.

@Kcar

I work together with the professionals who know my animal in real life.

Isn’t it against professional standards to diagnose over the internet?

Where have I diagnosed anything? I'm suggesting strategies that dog owners can discuss with their own vets or behaviourists.

I find it weird that you've decided to be unpleasant when my objective is to support dog owners and improve dog welfare. Why does that bother you? But like I said before it's up to you if you choose to be offended/patronised/whatever

@Steamfan

How marvellous of you to come and condescend to us animal owners. I'm sick of being some of the downright nasty threads on here. As Warpdrive has said there are other animals out there that suffer badly. Horses, sheep, wildlife. I was outside at one point on Wednesday when it all started and my hedge was full od sparrows all squaking away. I felt so sorry for them. I guess a box under the stairs would be just right for a horse.

If you don't like the thread, move on. You clearly can't be arsed to actually read it....

You’re really condescending.

I’m not the only person to think so.

It's interesting isn't it that when you start a thread on MN in good faith to try and help others, a bunch of cunts will quickly turn up to demonstrate why you shouldn't bother

@Kcar

You’re really condescending.

I’m not the only person to think so.

So why are you still here?

@PlatinumBrunette

if my DH did that I'd kick his arse. Probably out of the house. How dare he a) fuck with the dose and b) get angry with her for being upset. Sounds like a gem of a man 🙄

That’s interesting. My dog is almost 6 and has never minded fireworks before, but this year is showing signs of fear like not wanting to go out for her last pee in the garden at night (I take her out the front on a lead and she minds that less) and generally looking a bit scared and finding a dark hideyhole. She does have arthritis is one hip and is on anti inflammatory medication for that. Perhaps I should take her back to the vet to check her pain is under control? She did look a bit stiff on her walk.

Thank you for the info, OP. I had no idea about the link between pain and phobia and I don’t know why you’re getting sarky responses.

On pain: my vet has suggested laser therapy for the hip joint. I’m a bit skeptical as this isn’t something I’ve heard of and I keep wondering, if it’s effective why don’t they do it for humans? Do you have a view on that, or on other pain control strategies?

I think Veterinari has been given an unfair time here.

She came here to address the specific problem of domestic dogs and fireworks, and has given some really useful advice.

I often wonder if all the moaning dog owners eat meat/dairy and own leather shoes/handbags. The suffering animals endure for you to do so is AWFUL, far worse than fireworks. But I’m guessing you don’t care as it doesn’t affect you directly, bit hypocritical really!

@titsaleena

I often wonder if all the moaning dog owners eat meat/dairy and own leather shoes/handbags. The suffering animals endure for you to do so is AWFUL, far worse than fireworks. But I’m guessing you don’t care as it doesn’t affect you directly, bit hypocritical really!

I do.

But I come from a farming background and usd to work summers on the packing line.

I’m well aware of the conditions animals live and die in.

It’s,why I don’t get veterinari’s lack of concern over horses/cows/sheep and other wildlife.

Thanks titsaleena - been veggie for 40 years, vegan for 10, so your concern is noted

@Veterinari is well known for good advice. What a fucking nasty bunch some of you lot are

I’m veggie and own a dog. I also support fireworks being banned, or allowed for licensed professional displays only. Sadly, beyond making my views on this known, I can’t do anything to help the local sparrows or sheep who might be afraid. I do have one animal living with me for whose welfare I am entirely responsible - my dog - and so I am grateful for Veterinari’s advice on this thread.

Just wanted to add a point about owners adding to anxiety.
I don't have dogs, but two cats, one is super zen and stresses over nothing, the other does get a tiny bit anxious when hearing loud bangs.
My mother ( we live together) becomes super manic on bonfire night, tries to herd the cats into "safe places", becomes very agitated herself, jumping at every noise, to the extent that the cats are arched in fear, screeching around the house.

Left to my devices I would make sure the cats had a super tasty meal late afternoon so full bellies, central heating turned up, a bit of catnip and favourite blankies spread around.
I have owned several dogs too over the years, and same principle applies- very long walk that afternoon, early meal so full tummies, glass of wine for me, low lights. Tired, full, sleepy animals are less likely to become stressed by fireworks, and less likely to be stressed by owners who are calm.
Dogs pick up on human energy and look to us in some ways how to react.
Having said that I have had a Maverick dog who none of the above would work for and a flying crisp packet in the wind would have him heading for the underground shelters!

It’s,why I don’t get veterinari’s lack of concern over horses/cows/sheep and other wildlife

Where have I shown a lack of concern? 

This thread also doesn't cover modern day slavery, the gender pay gap or the provision of free school meals to children. It doesn't mean I don't care about those issues. They are however outside of my area of expertise. The thread title and OP make the subject of the thread clear. If you have other issues of concern you'd like to discuss you are very welcome to start your own @Kcar

In fact it may be a more constructive use of your time since my thread is clearly an ongoing disappointment for you

@speakout

Just wanted to add a point about owners adding to anxiety. I don't have dogs, but two cats, one is super zen and stresses over nothing, the other does get a tiny bit anxious when hearing loud bangs. My mother ( we live together) becomes super manic on bonfire night, tries to herd the cats into "safe places", becomes very agitated herself, jumping at every noise, to the extent that the cats are arched in fear, screeching around the house.

Left to my devices I would make sure the cats had a super tasty meal late afternoon so full bellies, central heating turned up, a bit of catnip and favourite blankies spread around.
I have owned several dogs too over the years, and same principle applies- very long walk that afternoon, early meal so full tummies, glass of wine for me, low lights. Tired, full, sleepy animals are less likely to become stressed by fireworks, and less likely to be stressed by owners who are calm.
Dogs pick up on human energy and look to us in some ways how to react.
Having said that I have had a Maverick dog who none of the above would work for and a flying crisp packet in the wind would have him heading for the underground shelters!

I agree @speakout

Another posted also mentioned this earlier.
Their can definitely be a social contagion effect with fear/anxiety