Dogs and fireworks - sedative?
12 October 2007, 11:43 AM
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Dogs and fireworks - sedative?
One of my dogs is pretty terrified of fireworks and the loud bang season seems to last for about 3 weeks around here 
I will be discussing with the vet but I think some owners use a mild sedative to calm them down.
Any comments/suggestions please? david
I will be discussing with the vet but I think some owners use a mild sedative to calm them down.
Any comments/suggestions please? david
12 October 2007, 11:49 AM
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There was a program about it the other night. Basically they said they prefer not to give sedatives but to try to de-sensitise your dog with small noises gradually increasing. They also said the worst thing is to try to comfort your dog because he will think that the attention you are giving him makes him think the problem is worse than it is.
Difficult problem I know.
Les
Difficult problem I know.
Les
12 October 2007, 12:10 PM
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Thanks Les. Well I've been doing it all wrong then 
As soon as some noise starts she jumps up on my lap and is a lot calmer, or so I thought. Trouble is I don't want her on my lap for the best part of 3 weeks
As soon as some noise starts she jumps up on my lap and is a lot calmer, or so I thought. Trouble is I don't want her on my lap for the best part of 3 weeks
12 October 2007, 01:16 PM
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David we've just bought a fireworks CD for the dog from the vets (£12), it's basically as Leslie says, a tool to de-sensitise them. We started off by playing it very quietly and playing with her and giving her treats so that she starts to associate the noises with good things. We've only done one session so I can't tell you if it's working yet
The CD we bought is by this lot: Fear of Fireworks, Firework phobia and fear of fireworks therapy using a desensitisation CD, behavioural modification, and D.A.P. Dog Appeasing Pheromone
The CD we bought is by this lot: Fear of Fireworks, Firework phobia and fear of fireworks therapy using a desensitisation CD, behavioural modification, and D.A.P. Dog Appeasing Pheromone
12 October 2007, 01:23 PM
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Hey Scoobychick -thanks for that. I didn't even know these things existed so will investigate. She's not a puppy though so "old dog - new tricks??".
Our other dog doesn't seem bothered too much. Perhaps being pretty mutt & jeff helps (although she can hear a doggie treat being dropped at a 100 paces).
Our other dog doesn't seem bothered too much. Perhaps being pretty mutt & jeff helps (although she can hear a doggie treat being dropped at a 100 paces
).
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12 October 2007, 04:56 PM
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give your dog some stugeron 15 - our vet recommended it, a herbal, non-prescription calmative. your hund will be mellow. stopped our lab getting anxiety vomit attacks in the car and it's better than a prescribed sedative that turns your pooch into pete docherty.
13 October 2007, 12:59 AM
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13 October 2007, 09:16 AM
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I did hear one method that may work - put the dog in the quietest room in the house at night, and put a radio on playing something like Classic FM or Radio 4 - just something as background noise that can mask the worst noise from the fireworks.
I thought though that there were new laws about letting off fireworks now ( although I dont know if the police ever enforced them ) something about how many days before Nov 5th you can do it, and how late at night ?
I thought though that there were new laws about letting off fireworks now ( although I dont know if the police ever enforced them ) something about how many days before Nov 5th you can do it, and how late at night ?
13 October 2007, 09:33 AM
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I guess I could move her to another room but tbh the noise pentrates the house. It's not the big organised displays so much as the local kids suddenly letting off stuff on the rec' ground alongside my house without warning. Oh and I would have to take her mate with her if she moved
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...estFriends.jpg
I think the law says something about not after 11.30 but they don't seem to take any notice around here
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...estFriends.jpg
I think the law says something about not after 11.30 but they don't seem to take any notice around here
13 October 2007, 01:09 PM
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We did our second session with the CD yesterday and it seems to be working already. I set the volume quite low and we gave the dog a Kong filled with treats and let her play with it for about an hour whilst the fireworks went off in the background. Steadily I increased the volume and on the odd occasion she heard it and looked up but didn't dissolve into a shaking mess as usual then just carried on playing happily with the Kong.
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