Hi all
I wonder if anyone has any advice , Tarka is absolutely terrified of fireworks as we've found out the last few days . I asked the vets who said if she is that scared that the herbal supplements won't make a difference they recommended diazepam or Valium as its otherwise known and said to book her in which I have for Monday. I've been reading up on it and I must admit I'm not keen on giving it to her it's addictive and causes side effects and basically just knocks them out which I don't really think will help her to conquer her fear. We only got her last December from MKF so I don't know what she was like before but she dragged hubby (who's six foot five and 18 stone) -"and poor Archie all the way home the other night as there were two huge bangs one after another . She then galloped upstairs and jumped on our bed (due to her ED she usually can't even Get on our bed) and wouldn't come down, she won't usually even go upstairs alone so I know she's terrified, any advice would be much appreciated. Valium or no Valium Archie on the other hand just barks at them
Our Mollie was exactly the same Lisa. We had no option but go with the vet's suggestion of diazepam. She just had one when the fireworks were at their worst, so wasnt having a few a day or anything like that. Just one as and when needed and certainly not where she could get addicted. She slept through it and woke up with no ill effects. I know the problem you're dealing with though, as Mollie was noise phobic. During a thunderstorm we used to turn the tv up very loud and didn't make too much fuss of her, as I was advised that it reinforces in them that something's wrong.
I remember one day I was on the beach with her and a loud foghorn noise went off, calling the lifeboats out. It was deafening! She shot off the beach towards the car, with me panicking and chasing after her. I went flying over a little brick wall I can laugh now but it wasn't funny at the time.
I think you'll find that this is a very common problem, and you'll no doubt get some advice on here.
Hey those mutt muffs look cool But I'm not sure tarka would keep them on mainly coz of Archie they play fight constantly rolling around on floor growling chasing each other round jumping by on settee running upstairs I think they'de fall off in minutes or Archie would pull them off
I think I'll have to go with the diazepam then but pull her appointment forward to Friday coz I bet there's loads of fireworks this weekend too , tarkas usually like my shadow follows me everywhere she's that scared she's been upstairs on her bed with hubby all night and there was only maybe three or four bangs all night with fireworks poor Tarkie
Thanks for the advice looks like tark will have to have the tablets she's that bad it's only for a few days maybe two weekend s next door usually set off Fireworks too she won't like that bless her
Hi Lisa
Molly is also terrified of fireworks I dread this time of year. I bought a Thundershirt for her and I do find that it helps.
I bought it from QVC shopping channel but I think you can buy them at Pets at Home Molly us 32kg and I bought the XL
I also put the tv very loud and the radio the same and switch off the door bell and wish the night away!!
Love Liz Shelly Bonnie Molly n Polly xx
My old lab homer was the same - absolutely terrified
We used to get a tablet from the vet to knock him out, but he would still shake even when he was asleep
We always used to have all the lights on and the tv up loud to try to hide the noise and acted normally around him but it was always horrible and upsetting to watch
I used to get so angry when people would let fireworks off weeks before the actual night - poor homi was just a wreck
Luckily Parker & poppy just ignore them but I alwYs think of my old boy whenever I hear them
Love Gill Parker & Poppy x
Never had a dog who had a problem with fireworks but one thing you shouldn't do,is fuss over a dog that is frightened of fireworks. Best thing to do is ignore the behaviour as otherwise you will make things worse.
Dogs Trust have some sound therapy for free which is really worth a try (although may be a little late to start now). Link is here:
Poor Tarka I have never needed them but what about the adaptil plug in's???
How about going on YouTube similar to what Jackie suggested you can play firework noises On the run up to bonfire night
i know my circumstances are different but I was really cruel and took Coco out on her first bonfire night (7.5 months old) collar harness two leads, as I didn't want her as frightened as my first lab and Kinder is just a bully beef not frightened of anything???
Good luck with whatever you decide and I hope it works for Tarka xx
Debbie, Coco, Kinder & Buttons XXX
Who ever said diamonds are a girls best friend..... Never owned a Labrador or three
Thanks for all the advice I must admit I didn't want to give her drugs whatsoever but she is genuinely absolutely terrified , there were two small bangs yest and we didn't see her for five hours she was cowering hidden at the side of the bed poor Tarkie she will not usually go upstairs without being told she can at bedtime but she shot up and hid .
I went to the vets today at nine am first appt I. Brought it forward we usually see the head of practice John but he wasn't in today she had been booked in with him on Monday. We saw one of the new vets and I was really disappointed. She gave her calmex a herbal supplement I said that the vet nurse had said there's no point trying the plug ins or herbal supplants as she's so scared but she wouldn't have it and charged me 35 , I checked amazon and the tabs are £8.99 on there. That wasn't the worst I asked if she cud trim tarkas dew claws as they were very long and curled round I was scared she'd catch them on something. She trimmed them way too short and tarka was bleeding all over the practice room blood everywhere she disappeared for ten minutes to get someone to help her dress her leg poor tarka I had to grab some kitchen roll and sit on the floor trying to stop the bleeding , she had a huge blue bandage on all today poor girl seeing she's terrified of the vets anyway that didn't help poor Tarkie
On a real positive she's got her target weight of 31 kilos hurrah
Poor Tarka. It won't help for this year (it takes too long) but it might be worth considering getting a CD or tape of bangs, thunder, fireowrks etc and I think you start by playing it VERY quietly, so quietly it doesn't worry her. Then when she's used to that you ever so slightly increase the volume, and so on, until she's used to the noise (it can take weeks). I've luckily not had to use this system myself but perhaps there are people on here who have. Glenys, do you know if this works? it's also been used with people who suffer from hyperacusis.
I am a bit amazed.
I shared a flat with a vet in Bristol and she seemed so capable.
But I have a wee problem with the vet sometimes as Kim tries to snog them
Not advice on loud bangs sorry as I am a very noisy dog mum but have been asked to recommend aromatherapy for well being and very elderly confused dogs from time to time. Not sure it helped but gorgeous smells and happy owners.
I have always thought the plug ins sound a good idea we have had loads of skitty pussies but I usually used to boil up cod heads and send them to bed with full bellies on bonfire night.
Hazel and Kim's
maxie wrote:Poor Tarka. It won't help for this year (it takes too long) but it might be worth considering getting a CD or tape of bangs, thunder, fireowrks etc and I think you start by playing it VERY quietly, so quietly it doesn't worry her. Then when she's used to that you ever so slightly increase the volume, and so on, until she's used to the noise (it can take weeks). I've luckily not had to use this system myself but perhaps there are people on here who have. Glenys, do you know if this works? it's also been used with people who suffer from hyperacusis.
Good luck during this wretched firework season,
Joan.
Living in deepest darkest France I don't have the firework problem thank goodness (New Year's Eve a bit, but a way away). However, I did buy one of these cds when I got Douma, who'd been stuck in a grim kennels for 5 of her 7 years. Spent a few weeks playing the noises, also put the sound of my phone ringing on the computer and played it at various levels. Seemed to help. Any noises outside, like the guns the hunters (horrid creatures) use I ignore when she Rowley react to save bothering her more. Generally they are both ok with that now. The link a few posts above to the dogs trust "noises" looks a good one, have looked at it and saved it for future ref.
Archie on the other hand just barks at them 
I have never needed them but what about the adaptil plug in's???
