My Pet World: Don’t let July 4 Big Bang leave your pet with the jitters
The Big Bang is no theory for dogs. Even the most patriotic, all-American dogs like Boston terriers and American foxhounds can be terrified by all those colorful explosions in the night sky on July 4.
Dogs have no way of knowing what the noise is all about, and if fireworks are nearby, the animals can sometimes smell them and even feel the vibrations, bumping up the fear factor.
Whether you need to protect your dog (or cat) during fireworks displays depends on the pet’s fear level. First, consult your veterinarian or a veterinary technician with behavioral training. If fireworks trigger shaking, excessive salivation, incontinence, poor appetite or inconsolable terror in your pet, the most humane solution may be anti-anxiety medication.
Today, enlightened veterinarians know what to prescribe. For example, a drug called acepromazine is no longer considered a good idea because it doesn’t lower a dog’s anxiety but merely causes drowsiness. Similarly, Benadryl can make dogs sleepy. With enough of the drug, the pet dozes on and off, but the terror remains. By contrast, anti-anxiety meds affect brain chemistry to effectively reduce anxiety.
Be aware that a specific anti-anxiety drug that works for one dog may not be as effective for another, and some drugs require time to kick in. Therefore, it’s best not to wait until July 3 to call your veterinarian.
For many dogs, drugs are not required to ease their fear of fireworks. Behavior modification can do the trick, particularly if you supplement it with some of the products listed at the end of this column.
Start by desensitizing and counterconditioning your dog to the sound of fireworks. The idea is to play the sounds of the big bangs very softly as your pooch plays or eats, then gradually pump up the volume (and bring your dog’s toys or food dish closer to the speakers).
A free MP3 of fireworks sounds can be downloaded at dogsandfireworks.com.
For some dogs, the best remedy is to combine several of the products listed below and simply “jolly” the pet. Another trick: Take your dog to the basement, or the most secluded room in your home, and pump up the music so the pet can’t hear the fireworks.
The website asoundbeginningprogram.com and other sites feature music to help relax worried dogs. Or you could just play some classical music. Distracting your dog with games can also help. Don’t worry, you won’t be rewarding your pet’s fear, just moving the animal from fearful mode to play mode.
Other helpful products and therapies:
•Adaptil is a copy of the natural comforting pheromone released by mother dogs to reassure puppies. Adaptil is available as a plug-in diffuser or collar.
•Thundershirt, Storm Defender, Anxiety Wrap are pet garments with a potentially calming affect. Thundershirt is a vest that applies gentle, constant pressure, similar to swaddling an infant (www.thundershirt.com). Storm Defender, with its special lining, wraps around a dog to calm the pet’s nerves (www.stormdefender.com). Anxiety Wrap uses acupressure and gentle, maintained pressure to relieve stress and fear in dogs (anxietywrap.com.).
•Zylkene is a nutritional supplement derived from casein, a protein in milk. Zylkene contains a molecule known to promote relaxation: (www.vetoquinolusa.com/Products/Behavior/index.html).
•A Royal Canin prescription diet for cats and smaller dogs called CALM includes two amino acids that help pets maintain emotional balance. Alpha-casozepine, derived from milk, has been shown to have calming effects, as does L-tryptophan. CALM also has Nicotinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, which calms the central nervous system.
•Anxitane is a nutritional supplement that contains L-Theanine, an amino acid proven to reduce stress (www.virbacvet.com/products/detail/anxitane-l-theanine-chewable-tablets/behavioral-health).
•Ear plugs for dogs. Originally created to condition hunting dogs to the sound of guns, these can help, but convincing dogs to keep them on is the challenge (www.earplugstore.com/mumufordo.html).
•Aromatherapy and other calming techniques and supplements. Many carry claims without much basis in science, but some help individual pets.
•Most importantly, establish a no-open-door policy in the days around the Fourth, when frantic pets bolt in surprisingly high numbers. Also microchip your dog or cat and register the pet with the chip provider.
STEVE DALE hosts the nationally syndicated “Steve Dale’s Pet World” and “The Pet Minute” and is a contributing editor to USA Weekend. Send questions to [email protected]. Include your name, city and state or visit https://www.stevedalepetworld.com.