Every year I post an article that lists last minute things you can do to help your dog who is afraid of fireworks. Independence Day and Canada Day are upon us, and that means bangs and booms. Over the years, I’ve changed my list. I will update and repost it in a few days.
But here’s an early warning with the most important tip of all.
See your vet about medications (or talk to clinic staff via text or phone if that’s an option).
There are new products on the market, as well as some options that have been around for years. Here is what Dr. Lynn Honeckman, veterinary resident about the benefits of the drugs.
Now is the perfect time to add an anti-anxiety medication to your firework-preparation kit. The right medication can help your pet stay calm while not causing significant sedation. It is important to practice drug tests before the actual holiday so that the effect can be assessed properly.
There are various medications or combinations that your veterinarian may prescribe. Medications like Sileo, clonidine, alprazolam, gabapentin, or trazodone are the best to try because of their quick onset of action (usually within an hour) and short duration of effect (4-6 hours).
Medications such as acepromazine should be avoided because they provide sedation without an anti-anxiety effect, and may cause an increase in fear.
Pets suffering from severe phobias may require a combination of drugs to achieve the appropriate effect, and doses may need to be increased or decreased during the trial period. Ultimately, there is no reason to allow a pet to suffer from noise phobia. Now is the perfect time to talk to your vet.
Dr. Lynn Honeckman
Sound phobia is a serious medical condition that often gets worse. Nothing else comes close to the effectiveness of drugs. Research on music, pressure garments, and supplements shows a weak effect at best. The best way to help your dog cope with the upcoming holidays in the US and Canada is to contact your veterinarian for help. Call now.
Bonus Tip: There’s New Evidence to Support Ad Hoc Counterconditioning
I had planned to publish a full post on this topic, but it took too long to get it done for this year’s fireworks season. I recommend ad hoc counterconditioning in my other post, and in recent years there has been new evidence of its effectiveness.
Ad hoc counterconditioning is counterconditioning without desensitization. It is the practice of providing appetitive stimuli (usually food or play) after the occurrence of a trigger. In other words, drop delicious food whenever there are fireworks. But also, feel free to treat other sudden sounds: doors slamming, objects falling to the floor, something snapping—any impulse sound.
Dr. Stefanie Riemer has published three papers in the past few years on fireworks fears in dogs. His bio states:
I’m a behavioral biologist and I’m especially interested in how dogs feel and think. My research interests include emotional expression and social communication in dogs, personality development, noise fear and veterinary fear in dogs as well as the phenomenon of so-called ‘ball junkies’ and possible similarities to behavioral addictions in humans.
said Dr. Stephanie Riemer
His research is fascinating and his papers are very readable and available unabridged online. Here’s where to check them out.
His research also supports the use of anxiolytic drugs, so we come full circle with Dr.’s words. Honeckman: now is a good time to talk to your vet. And if you can, be prepared to drop treats—yummy!
Copyright 2019 Eileen Anderson, edited in 2024
