Happy summer, everyone!
4th of July marks the true arrival of summer and many of us will participate in celebrations ranging from barbeques to fireworks. While we look forward to these activities, your dog may not be so eager to participate. Noise anxiety/phobias are one of the most common behavioral conditions we see at Dogwood. Symptoms of noise phobia can range from mild (trembling, clingy behavior, and hiding) to severe (destructive behavior, breaking out of the house in an attempt to escape, self injury). Fireworks and gunfire, even from very far away, can trigger anxious behavior and make your dog’s 4th of July miserable. Here are a few suggestions that can help make this noisy holiday easier for your fuzzy family member:
1) Find a safe place for your pet: If you are going to be away, keep your dog in a familiar place he/she is comfortable with. Make sure he has his bed, toys, etc. Some dogs feel more secure in a crate, however, crating is not recommended if your dog isn’t routinely kept in one. You can make these places even more comforting by utilizing either an Adaptil collar or Adaptil spray. Adaptil utilizes pheromones (scentless chemicals) to encourage a feeling of contentment and helps reduce anxiety. Adaptil is available at Dogwood, and can be very effective in managing mild noise phobia. Learn more about Adaptil at http://www.adaptil.com/
2) Play a radio: If you are leaving your pet at home, consider playing a radio or leaving the television on to help drown out any nearby noise.
3) Consider medications to make your dog’s holiday easier: There are many effective, safe medications that are available that can help easy anxiety in your dog while not overly sedating them. We have several options at Dogwood ranging from pills to oral gels. To learn more about our newest gel medication, visit http://www.sileodogus.com/. We are using this product regularly and the feedback from it is excellent!
4) Leave your dog at home: Fireworks displays are no place for your dog’s sensitive ears! While the sound level itself can be damaging, exposing your dog to fireworks up close and personal can be the stepping stone to lifelong noise phobia. Protect your best friend’s hearing and emotional health- leave him safe at home.
Noise phobias are complex behaviors, and take time and patience to effectively treat. The above recommendations are meant to help in the short term. Please feel free to speak with any of our team on how you can incorporate long term management and desensitization to help reduce your dog’s noise related anxiety. Have a fantastic holiday!!
Dr. Cher Canaday