Every year I post a list of last-minute things you can do to help your dog who’s afraid of fireworks. With Independence Day and Canada Day coming up, fireworks will be set off. Over the years, I’ve tweaked the list, and will update and repost it in a few days.
But here are some of the most important tips early on:
Talk to your vet about medications (or talk to clinic staff over text or phone, if possible).
While there are newer products on the market, there are some options that have been around for years. Dr. Lynn Honeckman, veterinary behavior resident, explains the benefits of medication:
Now is the perfect time to add some anti-anxiety medication to your fireworks prep kit. The right medication will help keep your pet calm while not causing a strong sedative effect. It’s important to do a practice trial of the medication before the actual holiday and properly test the effects.
There are many different medications and combinations your veterinarian may prescribe. Medications such as Sileo, Clonidine, Alprazolam, Gabapentin, and Trazodone are best to try as they have a fast onset of effect (usually within an hour) and short duration of effect (4-6 hours).
Drugs such as acepromazine should be avoided because they produce sedation without anxiolytic effects and may increase fear.
Pets who suffer from severe phobias may need to use multiple medications together to get the proper effect, and dosages may need to be increased or decreased during the trial period. After all, there’s no reason to let your pet suffer from noise phobia. Now is the perfect time to consult your veterinarian.
Dr. Lynn Horneckman
Phonophobia is a serious medical condition that usually gets worse. Nothing compares to the effectiveness of medication. Studies on music, compression garments, and supplements have shown weak effects. At best. The best way to help your dog survive the upcoming holidays in the U.S. and Canada is to contact your veterinarian for help. Call us today.
Bonus tip: There’s new evidence supporting ad hoc counter conditioning
I had planned to publish an entire post on this topic, but it took too long to complete it in time for fireworks season this year. In another post I recommended ad-hoc counter conditioning, and in recent years new evidence has emerged regarding its effectiveness.
Ad hoc counter conditioning is counter conditioning without desensitization. It involves providing an appetizing stimulus (usually food or play) after the trigger occurs. In other words, drop a tasty treat every time a firework goes off. But feel free to also handle other sudden sounds like a door slamming, something falling to the floor, or something popping.
Dr. Stephanie Reimer has published three papers on fireworks phobia in dogs over the last few years. Her bio states:
I am a behavioral biologist with a particular interest in canine emotions and thinking. My research interests include canine emotional expression, social communication, personality development, noise and veterinary phobias in dogs, the phenomenon of so-called “ball addiction” and its parallels with human behavioral addictions.
Her research is fascinating, her paper is very readable and freely available online; you can check out her paper here.
Her research also supports the use of anti-anxiety medications, so going back to Dr. Honeckmann’s words, now is a great time to consult with your vet. And, if possible, be prepared to offer treats. Good treats!
Copyright 2019 Eileen Anderson, 2024Edit
