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| Greta wishes you a Happy 4th of July!! |
FIREWORKS AND FIDOS – DO’S AND DON’T’S
Most people look forward to watching fireworks illuminate the night sky on the Fourth of July.
But for many family pets, the celebratory pops, booms and bangs trigger a full-blown panic attack. The 4th of July is undeniably the worst holiday for animals. Loud pops, booms and unpredictable flashes of light assault the senses of pets and may induce the classic fight-or-flight instinct. Some dogs are so terrified, they dig out of backyards, jump through glass windows, or scale walls to escape from the sound. Others pant, pace, tremble, whine, eliminate inappropriately and hide under beds or behind furniture. Dogs can seriously injure themselves trying to escape (in vain) from the fireworks. It is not uncommon for otherwise friendly animals to become aggressive when fearful or injured, and pets fleeing in fear are more likely to be hit by cars.
The number of dogs that “freak out” over the sound of firecrackers is unknown, but every year shelters nationwide report taking in large numbers of spooked family pets. That's why making sure a pet's ID tag is up-to-date is also vital as this holiday weekend approaches, just in case your pet gets away from you or your home.
Dogs afraid of one type of noise, such as fireworks, are more likely to develop or experience fears of other sounds as well. The number one noise fear in dogs is thunderstorms followed by fireworks, vacuum cleaners and guns. Noise phobia strikes dogs of all ages, breeds and mixes. Cats can also be affected. Cases severe enough to prompt owners to seek professional help occur in up to 20 percent of dogs. But the best time to seek treatment for noise phobias is not at holiday time or during thunderstorm season.
Over time, with repeated exposure, the problem usually gets worse. It doesn't get better on its own and the pet won’t “get used to it” despite our wishes and desires otherwise.
Be compassionate and proactive in protecting your four-legged family members during the festive 4th of July fireworks celebration. If you know you pet is terrified of fireworks, schedule an appointment with us before the July 4th holiday to decide on the best strategy for your pet. The tranquilizer, acepromazine is frequently prescribed by many veterinarians, but it is the wrong medication for treating phobias. The drug does not decrease a dog's fear, and may even make matters worse by increasing sound sensitivity. If your dog panics to the point of needing medication, then it needs anti-anxiety medication and not just to be “gorked out.” So if you have this dangerous drug in your medicine cabinet at home, DO NOT GIVE IT TO YOUR PET!
Other preventative measures for firework phobic pets include:
- Resist the urge to take your pet to fireworks displays, unless you are absolutely sure your pet is completely comfortable with this setting.
- Do not take your pet then leave it in the car. With only hot air to breathe inside a car, your pet can suffer serious health effects—even death—in a few short minutes. Partially opened windows do not provide sufficient air, but they do provide an opportunity for your pet to be stolen.
- Make sure your dog or cat gets a lot of exercise prior to the start of the fireworks. You don’t need them wound up like a top before the fireworks start.
- Bring all pets indoors. Never leave pets outside unattended, even in a fenced yard or on a chain. In their fear, pets who normally wouldn't leave the yard may escape and become lost, or become entangled in their chain, risking injury or death.
- Create a safe haven within your home. Move their crate or bed to an interior area or basement that can provide the best insulation from noise and light . Close blinds and cover windows to block out flashes of light if you don’t have a basement or windowless rooms. But do not keep the room dark.
- Panic-proof the room. Some animals can become destructive when frightened, so be sure that you've removed any items that your pet could destroy or that would be harmful to your pet if chewed.
- Play music to provide some “white noise” for your pet.
- Set a diffuser filled with DAP (dog appeasing pheromone) or lavender and chamomile oil.
- Put an anti-anxiety T-shirt or vest on your dog. The specially designed clothing reportedly applies a gentle yet calming pressure around the dog's mid-section. The calming effect is similar to that seen when swaddling a fussy baby.
- Send your pet on an overnight “sleepover” to a friend's or family member's house located in a firework-free zone..
- Don’t leave a phobic pet in the care of children.
- Make sure your pets are wearing identification tags so that if they do become lost, they can be returned promptly. Animals found running at-large should be taken to the local animal shelter, where they will have the best chance of being reunited with their owners.
- Don’t make the problem worse. Some owners try comforting their frazzled pooches by holding or petting them, but it has no impact in lowering stress levels in storm-phobic dogs. In fact, coddling or petting almost always makes the problem worse. What you are doing is inadvertently rewarding the unwanted, anxious response. What does sometimes help is the presence of a canine buddy or two around the house.
(Thanks to Veterinary Specialties at the Lake for this informative article)
Wishing everyone a safe and Happy 4th of July!!