Fireworks Safety

Independence Day and all of its loud festivities can present certain anxieties for our canine companions.  Dogs with noise phobias need to be tended during the days surrounding July 4 in order to prevent them from harming themselves or running away.

Signs of noise phobias and storm phobias can be the same.  They include trembling, salivation, defecation, urination, destruction, escape, panting and/or vocalization.  Not all dogs exhibit all of these signs or with equal intensity.  

 

There are certain things that you should NOT do when your pet exhibits these signs in response to noise or storms:

·         Most dogs associate the word “OK” with a behavior that is encouraged and rewarded.  Telling them it’s OK when it’s not will confuse the dog, elevating its anxiety levels.

·         Also, to a dog, petting is a reward.  When owners pet fearful dogs, they are inadvertently rewarding the anxious behavior.  Instead, owners can put gently continuous pressure, either with an arm or the whole body, on the dog. If permitted by the dog, you can lean on or against the dog.  If this helps, and it often does, you will feel the dog exhale and its muscles begin to relax.  Obviously this is not a good plan if the dog becomes even more frantic.

·         Crates may help some dogs that already like their crates and voluntarily go there as a place to relax.  However, if a pet has not been crated in the past, now is NOT the time to introduce him to the crate.  It can create a negative association between the crate and the anxiety.

·         Placing dogs in an outside dog run during the fireworks or storm, while keeping them confined and unable to run away, will only increase their anxiety because they cannot escape the situation.

So, what can be done?  There are actually several suggestions, ranging from behavior modification to medication.  Here are a few :

·         We offer an all natural product called “Mellow Out,” which is a blend of calming herbs.  This may work for your pet IF it is given early enough.  Once the anxiety begins, there are very few products that will completely calm the pet throughout the event.  We recommend testing this product out on your pet prior to the July 4^th festivities to see how your pet responds.

·         Several of our clients have tried, and recommend, anxiety wraps.  These wraps put a gentle, constant physical pressure on the dog.  Two examples of these are the Anxiety Wrap and the more common Thunder Shirt.  Once again, though, these wraps must be placed on the dog before or as soon as the anxiety begins in order to be fully effective.

·         There are also calming medications that can be discussed with the veterinarian.  Some dogs get so worked up during fireworks and storms that medications are the only answer.

·         In addition to all of these suggestions, dogs that are this anxious tend to want to RUN.  Having your dog microchipped or otherwise identified is always the best case scenario.  That way, you have a much better chance of getting your pet back home, where he/she belongs.

Dogs don’t understand fireworks.  Helping them cope with this unknown anxiety is always in your pet’s best interest.  Please call our office at 913-649-0440 if you wish further information.