OUr dog is scared of bangs and July 4 is a bad day for her. Usually we leave her home because we go to a BBQ at my mother in law’s house–she lives very close to a fireworks display that we can see from her lawn.
But the dog is so agitated today I’m thinking of bringing her to the MIL anyway, thinking that being with us, even close to the fireworks, will be better than being alone but father away from the loud noises.
Can anyone offer some information or insight? I know this may be a matter of individual opinion/dog personailty, but perhaps someone has some facts?
Put her in a room she’s comfortable with and put on some music at moderate volume. In general, companionship doesn’t help a dog freaked out by thunder or fireworks as much as just being allowed to cower somewhere safe.
I let mine climb all over me if the evening permits it, but we’ll be leaving them in the basement tonight with some music on while we’re outside with our kinda pathetic fireworks. The neighbors tend to go to full war, though.
Getting some Ace-pro from your vet to have on hand over the year, and before the 4th, is a good idea with dogs that freak out from these sources.
If your dog is scared of bangs and is acting especially nervous, do not leave her alone today, especially if she’s getting older. When I was growing up, we lost our dog to 4th of July fireworks. She was always very anxious about fireworks, but we decided that she’d be okay that day. We put up a child gate at the stairs to prevent her form hurting herself, and left her alone.
When we came home, we found her at the foot of the stairs, with a bloodstain on the wall of the landing just above the foot of the stairs (our stairs went up a few steps to a landing, then turned 90 degrees and continued to the second floor). She’d be so desperate to find someone to comfort her that she battered down the gate and was running up and down the stairs looking for someone. At some point, she lost her footing, fell down the stairs, and slammed in to the wall of the landing. She was paralyzed from the waist down, and it wasn’t long after that that we knew we had to put her to sleep.
So, in my experience - if your dog is not a fan of loud noises, the 4th is the worst possible time to leave her alone. Obviously, I have no way of knowing the kinds of hazards that you might have in your home, but don’t underestimate the abilities and determination of a terrified dog - she could injure herself or escape from your yard. She’ll be scared witless and agitated regardless of where she is, so best to keep her someplace where she can get comfort if she needs it.
Based on my dogs, three out of nine were thunder/fireworks/gunshot phobic. Not as youngsters; the problem began after they were a few years old; and each one had a different level of tolerance. I had tranquilizers from the vet for when they were really freaking out.
I’d stay home with her if she is already showing signs of stress. You likely won’t be able to calm her down, but you’ll be there to prevent her from injuring herself.
If you do take her to MIL’s, make sure she is leashed (preferably in a harness as collars can slip) before you take her out of your house, and keep her leashed until she’s in a secure room at your MIL’s. Check on her periodically. Repeat the leashing routine until she is in your house for the rest of the night.
One of my dogs was so sensitive that she would start pacing, panting and drooling hours before a thunder storm. She was more reliable than the weatherman.
Maybe check with your vet about her noise sensitivity?
Cooper came with one when we adopted him, but it didn’t work with him initially, I haven’t tried it on him recently, I may try it again the next time we have a big thunderstorm, he’s not fazed by fireworks though
Try the Benadryl before the event starts, so that it has time to work before the scary. You can find children’s/liquid benadryl at almost any supermarket or pharmacy, even on the fourth.
You have a few considerations to weigh about taking your dog with you:
Can you keep your dog with you the entire time? Leaving them alone in a strange place isn’t really helping them. If you’re not going to keep with you at the party, don’t take them. A panicked dog can do a lot of damage to the room they’re in, so that’s a negative. He could also get out and get lost in a strange place. IIRC, Fourth of July is one of the nights where lots of dogs end up with animal control.
If you can’t have the dog with you, consider leaving your bedroom or another place that smells like you at home. You might even leave a shirt or sweatshirt of yours with the dog. Leave the TV on, NOT to a channel that will be playing fireworks. Perhaps pick a movie or TV shows from the DVR. Don’t leave it blasting, but at a conversational level.
In terms of where else you could leave your dog at home, if he/she is crate trained, that would work. Where they normally sleep, if it’s secure.
My dog spent last Fourth under my bed. It’s a common problem. Good luck.
In all my trips around the Sun, I have yet to encounter a firework-phobic canine that did not respond miraculously to the magic that is Valium. Two milligrams should do the trick for most dogs.
Thank you for all the advice. In the end I took her to MIL’s, and stayed inside with her during the show, sat next to her and petted her. She took it pretty calmly, more calmly than she had the random pops around the neighborhood during the day.
We had a moderately noisy evening but not as excessive as a few years ago. Our young neighbors had a big show that went on a good 90 minutes, noisy but only a few real rattlers. There were other noises all around us.
The dogs were comfortable in the basement (where they both go regularly, especially when their Earthly God is down there working) and while nervous, didn’t freak out. They came up when it got quiet.
I know it’s late, but I had a dog which really struggled with fireworks and thunder. Thunder around here doesn’t usually last all day, but once in a while it does.
I realize I may be a little late to the party as well (no pun intended), but I wanted to comment on this as I was doing some research the past couple of days and this came up in google.
I found a couple of websites that do give the appropriate dosage for dogs for the Benadryl medication, so I was curious and printed a couple and took them to my veterinarian before heading to work, and from all of the papers I handed her, she said they were all the same and they are safe to give my dogs. So I stuck with this one because it’s easily readable http://www.anydogrescue.org/benadryl-for-dogs/ and keep it in my purse if god forbid, one of my dogs gets stung by a bee or needs Benadryl right away until I can get to a vet.
I understand that there are a lot of medications that people are safe for dogs… I always ask my veterinarian before I would giver give my precious dogs one. So thanks for suggesting Benadryl as this is a safe medication to give to dogs!
