Worried about fireworks

[Scooter]

Zoe is really terrified of loud noises- the garbage truck, the vacuum cleaner, motorcycles, thunder, they all freak her out. We are going to the fireworks tonight which are close by where we live. We aren't taking Zoe, but I worry about her freaking out here at the house alone. Anything I can do to minimize it other than closing the windows?

 

[Charliesmommy]

I would try to have something to drown them out as much as possible - leave a radio playing or something.

 

[Romy]

One of my friends has a dog that freaks out at gunshots, fireworks, smashing lighbulbs, etc. She gets herbal dog tranquilizers and starts giving those to him a couple of days before the 4th, and new years, and then stops again after the event is over. He does very well with them.

There are also DAP hormone things you can get to calm dogs. They are like plug in air fresheners, only they diffuse the hormone smell of a lactating mother dog which is supposedly very comforting to an anxious dog. I know that petsmart carries these.

 

[otch1]

Zoe should be fine with music, as charliesmom said. I usually have the t.v. on for house dogs and one in kennel for boarders. If you're going to be away from the house during the height of firework noise, best to leave her crated, crate door against a wall verses facing open area of room. She can see t.v. from the side view of crate. Dogs truly terrified of fireworks can do alot of damage to themselves trying to break out of a crate door. You can leave a plastic water dish, water frozen in freezer, attached to the front of crate door. They have something to lick when and if they possibly have an upset stomach and experience nausea. No bones, no meal in pm. Best not to have a full stomach and chance a stress bloat. Hope you have a great 4th of July!!

 

[otch1]

Sorry, posting at same time you were Romy. I agree,some of the herbal relaxers do work very well and are a good idea too!

 

[Herschel]

Windows closed, TV/Radio on, blanket over the crate, and all of the suggestions above.

 

[StevePax]

We plan on Leo being in the crate (fireworks won't start until around 9 or 10 here, and he's usually in bed by then). Every night, he sleeps in the crate in the laundry room with the ventilation fan on - it's pretty noisy, so I really think it's going to drown out most of the noise going on in the street. We won't hear the city fireworks from here, but all the neighbors will be doing something out in the street with their kids. I think he's going to be okay.

 

[SummerRiot]

Gravol?

Call your vet for the appropriate dose size thoguh..

but that will sedate her enough to relax her...

Other then that, the radio or tv is a great deterant of noise, maybe keep her in the basement for the time being so she can't really see out the windows...

A crate in another great idea so your pup doesn't hurt itself if it happens to be a zoomie freak during loud noises.

I took Riot to the Canada Day fireworks that were held in Kingston last year (this year we were at the cottage). But he LOVED watching them. We'd sit on the rocks on the lake and watch them from there. He would have only been 1year old then(since its on his Birthday lol) and he'd sit beside me and watch them in amazement.

 

[Scooter]

Thanks all. This will be her first fireworks. Her birthday is July 11, so she just missed them last year!

 

[ACooper]

I hope she is doing ok, or already got through it ok.

I was concerned about Orson too as he has been hiding for two weeks now (neighborhood has been firework happy)

I think all the build up for tonight actually helped him out.........he has gotten used to hearing them, and though they still made him a bit anxious, he wasn't hiding with every one that went off tonight! (and we live close enough to the fair grounds to hear the big ones) So Yipeeee!

 

[ToscasMom]

We got through it well. Cats are always ok with it, now I know Tosca is for sure as well.

 

[DanL]

I was worried about Daisy, since she'd never heard them before. She doesn't like my lawn tractor at all, she'll run to the farthest point in the yard she can from where I am, and hide. But, she did great with the fireworks. She barked some, but she wasn't scared or shaking at all. Poor old Midnite, she was terrified of fireworks and thunderstorms, she'd press up against you and shake like a leaf.