New calming product for loud noises??

Thanks to added insulation and all new windows and doors, our cats are no longer bothered by the massive fireworks activities here. Barely hear them inside now. Thunder close by can still rattle Spotacus, but Alexander the Grrreat never has been fazed.

I shudder to think how Spotacus will react to fireworks when we're camping...

Ben is proving me right about easing their reaction to loud noises. I gave him a calming tablet around 6:30 PM on Saturday, to get through the lake association's fireworks that night. But of course there were fireworks Sunday night and last night (the actual 4th) - as long as he was indoors, he was fairly relaxed and happy even without any calming agent. Outdoors was still pretty scary, in his opinion - he was too tense to potty with fireworks being shot all around us. That's fine - I can deal with that.

Of course it DOES help that Jimmy, now 8 yrs old, is non-reactive to fireworks, thunder, etc. Ben has a good role model, too.

Good article - at least it explains how it works.

I think my 3 did OK last night (we're also babysitting my daughter's Shih-tzu, who gets "defensive" with fireworks). We went out on the boat to watch the lake association's fireworks, and returned to 3 happy, tail-wagging dogs, despite the private-show fireworks which continued for hours. I had provided "caves" for them to hide in, if needed - but they seemed OK.

We've been "serenaded" with fireworks for the last two hours. Luckily, bruiser isn't bothered by them. But thunder sets him off. Strangely it doesn't bother him if he's in his crate.

If not he will hide under the bed or climb up on my lap in the recliner.

Our close by COE park prohibits fireworks, and enforces the rules. Once saw the ranger make someone pack up and leave. Needed two deputies to back him up but they left.

dturm wrote:

It used to be that you could buy them but not set them off without a permit (that nobody got). Now you can set them off just about anywhere.

The justification for allowing increased sale and use was that they put a 5 percent tax on the sale of fireworks that is supposed to go to fire personnel training or a fire institute.

Doug, DVM

Michigan recently allowed the sale of fireworks, so we have a LOT more of them going off. Here on the lake, because the stupid tent sellers will hang around, the fireworks supply hangs around, too - I'll be hearing fireworks for a few weeks :-(

rvten wrote:
Try a Thunder Jacket. Makes the go feel more secure.
Better than drugging your pet.

I ordered one for Ben - but he's a deep-chested, short-bodied boy and the Thundershirt was too long. To put it as delicately as possible, it was going to rub his "boy parts" (although that distraction may have helped distract him from thunder?....LOL!) I think the shirt would have worked wonders, too, because he feels quite secure hiding under a blanket.

Fortunately, there's only one night (our big fireworks display over the lake) where he needs a little bit of drowsiness. And I'm finding that each year that he's not getting terrorized by fireworks because he's sleeping - he seems to be less fearful of them? It does help that my older dog Jimmy is bulletproof. He'll actually ride out on the boat to go watch the fireworks - they are simply something "interesting and noisy" to him.

Try a Thunder Jacket. Makes the go feel more secure.
Better than drugging your pet.

Having been in the veterinary product distribution business for over 40 years I have seen many, many products that have been touted as an end-all for noise phobia.

Consulting your veterinarian is a wise choice to see what is available. Unfortunately many families cannot, or will not, be able to afford the cost associated with vet visits (these are the same people who pay $1.50+ for a soda at a convenience store!!!).

Many people choose to visit their pet store or feed store for answers this time of year when fireworks are the norm in their neighborhoods. One product that has been around for years, and seems to work quite well, is Quiet Moments by NaturVet.

With ANY product I cannot recommend enough to administer the proper dose several hours before the anticipated firework show begins. Waiting until the dog or cat starts "freaking out" before administrating your chosen product will have less than desirable results (like, in many cases, no results).

Dr. Doug, if anything I have passed on here is incorrect please correct me!! Thanks.

Sileo is dexmedetomidine that is the same ingredient that is in Dexdomitor - a pre-anesthetic agent we have been using for several years. It is a great sedative, but I've never used it for noise phobia as until recently it has only been available in injectable forms.

I'd be interested in feedback from you all.

BTW, living in Indiana where the legislature and governor have made it legal to sell and set off fireworks up to about a 1/2 stick of dynamite, any holiday is miserable for many of our patients. The ERs are fire personnel are on alert also.

It used to be that you could buy them but not set them off without a permit (that nobody got). Now you can set them off just about anywhere.

The justification for allowing increased sale and use was that they put a 5 percent tax on the sale of fireworks that is supposed to go to fire personnel training or a fire institute.

Doug, DVM