Friday, October 28, 2011

FIREWORKS - Some remedies.


GREETINGS FROM SOUTH AFRICA!
MAXMOM here..

Hello there to all my friends across the world.

Firstly, let me say a big 'Thank you' for all your comments and suggestions regarding yesterday's post about Tammy's response to fireworks.  Your feedback is valuable and I really appreciate it.

There were some extremely valuable suggestions which I received from readers and followers of this blog, so I thought that I would post them up today.  We can all benefit from this knowedge. 

Obviously, one has to try and find the correct solution for each of our particular pets.  Some things work, other things don't.  It's a matter of trial and error. The age, experiences and traits/personality of our particular animals are also contributing factors, as well as our own particular reaction to the dog's response.  It we are uptight, they become uptight too.  It's important to stay calm.  Our relationships with our companion animals are complicated and I can also buy the theory that how we respond to a dog's behavioural isses plays a vital role in dealing with their presenting problems. 

Nevertheless, it is up to each of us to find our individual solutions for our dog's issues. 
 In Tammy's case, I continue my search...

Having said that, Tammy is much better today. 
The setting off of firecrackers in our particular neighbourhood has eased, but it takes only 'one' 'Bang' to change Tammy's paradigm.  Last night, we gave her a double-dose of meds just before sunset, and it seemed to do the trick.  I just wish that the setting off of fireworks could be restricted to specific times - this would be so helpful for us all, and will enable us to make contingency plans for our animals.

Here are some suggestions (that my readers have sent me) to deal with pets who are traumatised by fireworks. Thank you again for all your suggestions.   Please take a look at some of the links.  You never know, you may just find something that helps your animal.

1.  THUNDER JACKET/SHIRT

International:              http://www.thundershirt.com/lpc/

Some of my readers have had great success with the use of this jacket.  Some have also indicated that it had no effect whatsoever.  The jury is out on this one, although those who have had success, swear by it. Some of my followers have suggested that a TIGHT T-SHIRT can also have a good response.

2.  PHEROMONE SPRAY

This is (apparently) a room spray, which emulates the pheromones of a whelping bitch.  Although I've not tried it (yet), I have heard that it can help.
Available from Veterinarians.

3. ENVIRONMENT

This particular website offers valuable information about how we can make our environments more comfortable for our pets. It also gives a few other pointers

(Thank you, RILEY, for this particular suggestion!)


4.  RESCUE REMEDY

This remedy doesn't work for my own particular pets, but some of you have had success.
Available from many outlets.  In South Africa: Dischem stores.

5. PRESCRIBED MEDICATION
(Consult your Veterinarian!)

I always believe in consulting a Veterinary practitioner when it comes to problems with my pets. They are the people with knowledge better than our own.  
 In Tammy's case, we've tried many things.  Our vet finally prescribed medication a few years ago.  The thing to remember here (I find) is to try and administer the meds an hour or two prior to the event.  This is often not possible, but would be hugely effective for our animals if fireworks could be restricted to certain times and that we were given notice of these times. Unfortuntely here in SA people are generally lawless and inconsiderate about these matters.

6.  SOUND THERAPY, CD's, AUDITORY AIDS and DESENSITISATION

* SOUND THERAPY FOR PETS:

*Some of my readers have suggested the particular 'SOUNDS SCARY' CD's:(http://www.kyronlabs.co.za/products/print.php?pid=109)


* Kathleen Coy has had great success with her dog, Cloud, by using a particular classical CD
'Through a Dog's ear'
This CD can be purchased via
or in South Africa, via:

* An excellent article on desensitisation :

Again, THANK YOU to all my readers for your valuable input.
If there are any readers out there who are still setting off fireworks,
PLEASE, I am pleading with you...
 Please keep in mind the devastating consequences of your actions.
Our animals are suffering!

Sending lotsaluv to all my friends around the world





11 comments:

STELLA and RORY from Down Under said...

Thanks Maxmom for all the info. It might come in handy for us this Christmas. Hope poor Tammy is ok. Extra hugs for her. No worries (we hope for Tammy) and love, Stella and Rory

WFT Nobby said...

What a great example of sharing useful information through your blog. Thanks MaxMom!

Molly the Airedale said...

Thank you, MaxMom for the great post. We'll be checking out all of the links.
Paws are crossed that this gets less stressful for you, Tammy!

Love ya lots
Maggie and Mitch

Dexter said...

MaxMom,
You might want to check this one out http://www.stormdefender.com/how_it_works.htm

It creates an anti static layer around your dog. It seems that dogs often react to the change in charge that happens during thunderstorms. This one was tested by the behavioral vets at our local vet school and the majority of dogs showed improvement after 2-3 storms.

Mango Momma

Anonymous said...

Thanks for those tips... so many people here struggle with the same problem so they will be very useful. We have a thing called 'cracker night' here in the NT. It's a night when any moronic halfwit can arm themselves with gunpowder in the guise of firecrackers to celebrate Territory Day. It's in the middle of the dry season, so it causes lots of fires. It's fairly unregulated, so it causes lots of injuries. It also results in the stockpiling of fireworks which are let off whenever said moronic halfwits are inebriated enough, which is usually when you least expect it. EVERY year animals escape their yards in terror. They are hurt and killed on the roads as they try to escape the noise. It makes me so cross.

I hope you don't mind if I add a link to an online petition to stop the sale of fireworks in the NT...

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ban-the-sales-of-fireworks-to-the-public-northern-ter.html

Good luck with finding something that works for Tammy. :(

H and Flo

Scout and Freyja said...

Great post! So happy to read that Miss Tammy is feeling better. If you are miserable when she has an episode can you imagine how terrible she must feel? Poor baby.

My Dog Sam - Ruptured Disk said...

Hi Maxmom, thanks for posting some remedies. We'll be keeping the porch lights off so we won't get any kids "trick or treating" and no door bells going off so that will help. Most of all, my mom and dad will keep us all indoors with the TV turned up and some music going. But we have super ears so that might not help....

Angels Amber and Max DaWeenie and Mom said...

I certainly agree with you that it would help a lot to ban fireworks or restrict them to go on for no more than 15 minutes or so. Surely those wishing to blow off their body parts with setting off fireworks can do so in just a few minutes if they try hard enough. But even when the use of fireworks was banned here a few times because of very dry weather conditions and the threat of fires breaking out, the bans were totally ignored.

We know a ban will never happen so we deal the best way we know how for our pets' sake. Be thankful fireworks don't go off every night.

Two French Bulldogs said...

We heard that sound therapy works. We need to try it for my Lily
Benny (& Lily)

Mrs. JP said...

Those are good ideas, one can feel so helpless when all heck is breaking loose outside and frightening pack members. I'm glad that Tammy is better. Give her a hug from all of us in the holler.

Anonymous said...

Hang in there Tam it is almost over with and then peace will prevail again!


woos, Tessa