Are you dreading fireworks as much as we are?

[DawgHouse]

My terrier is terrorized by fireworks, thunder, etc. We have a thunder shirt but it doesn't help. It relieves a little anxiety with thunderstorms but if you live in Florida, you know what kind of storms we have in the summer. They are big and very loud!

We've had to resort to valium for the fireworks celebrations and it does help if we give it to her early enough in the day. The problem is, my neighborhood is populated by people who are fireworks ka-razy! I don't mean a few bottle rockets, I mean, "KABOOM!" for hours every evening. It will start in a day or so and last through Sunday night, no doubt. She's three years old now and her fear started at about age one. She won't eat and she'll fret and stress if she has to go outside.

My boy, Butters, could not care less. We joke that it's because he's a "street dog", we found him about two years ago roaming the streets.

We also have another doggy right now, Sawyer. He's about two. He belonged to the neighbors until last week, when they brought him over and gave him to us. Long story, but we'd noticed they didn't seem to be able to keep him from running all over the neighborhood. We mentioned that if they decided he was too much to handle, we'd take him. So, the little girls (6 and 8) showed up with him on our doorstep last week. He's sweet but we're looking to find a furever home for him. I'm curious to see what he thinks about the festivities.

I just wanted to commiserate with other pet owners who are getting ready to suffer along with their pets.

[shenmue]

1. My little poodle Murphy doesn't like loud noises either

[2theleft]

2. Sigh. NOT looking forward to it at all.

Both of my dogs freak out with fireworks and thunder storms, but fireworks are the worst.

My boxer can't take valium/xanax - she is one of the ones that is has the opposite effect on, so I then have a keyed up anxious dog trembling and panting like crazy.

Did some research yesterday actually. Downloaded a cd that with classical music in keys that are supposedly soothing to dogs. Will start playing it tomorrow when they are relaxed and chilled out and continue that as we head into the weekend and then see how it goes this weekend.

Fingers crossed you all make it through with minimal booms and bangs.

[DawgHouse]

4. Eh, I doubt soft classical musical would work on Bella.

She's just assume it was for her funeral.

[kacekwl]

3. I feel your pain

my 9 year old rat terrior hides in the darkest place she can find and shakes for hours. Problem fireworks here started a week ago and continue for weeks until these nimrods run out. Seems that they never run out. I feel so sad for her

[DawgHouse]

5. Yes, our Bella trembles.

It's so awful.

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. Our 13 year old Buddy is now mostly deaf, so will experience his first stress free 4th

Our three cats, and other chocolate, Mocha, don't seem to mind loud noises. Thunderstorms no longer bother Buddy either - at 13, he is doing great otherwise!

[DawgHouse]

7. That's one thing great about the old dogs!

We had an aussie mix, Annie, who was afraid but same as yours, once her hearing started going around age 10, she was relaxed about lots of things.

She even let me vacuum her the last year or so of her life, which was funny since she was always so afraid of the vacuum. Later I thought perhaps it wasn't that she was afraid of it, maybe it hurt her ears.

[DawgHouse]

8. Ear muffs for dogs

Have you seen these? I looked at these last year but determined they wouldn't work for fireworks, based on some reviews. Still, wouldn't it be great if it did?

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/mans-best-friend/2012/03/protecting-your-gundogs-hearing

[dsc]

9. This is my first July 4th with Scooter

Hershey was old and unaffected by fireworks plus I lived in a complex so it wasn't a huge issue. Now I live in a duplex on a dead end street. At least most of my neighbors have recently moved so we should have only a few fireworks. I was very afraid given that my neighbor did demolition for a living. I just have to hope for the best. Worst case, I will drive with him for a bit.

[PatrickforO]

10. Yeah, we have four cats and a Great Dane.

The Dane is terrified of thunder and fireworks. July 4th is never a really good holiday for us because the neighbors always go up to WY and buy cherry bombs and other stuff that is really loud and destructive.

I've always been indifferent at best about fireworks.

Even when I was a kid during the 60s and every set of parents on our block went out and bought a couple hundred dollars worth of fireworks and had their own back patio show, I never cared one way or the other.

But the big dogs hate it. We lost a St. Bernard one year.

Keep your animals in guys. Seriously.

[brer cat]

11. Our dog will bark for hours

and run around checking all the doors and windows where that big "bang" might get inside. Our neighbors start early and keep it up late, and he will not leave the house to pee or poop. Fortunately he uses a bathroom mat in an emergency so clean up is easy. It's our first year with our cat, but he is terrified of thunder so I guess he will be under the bed all day and night. Poor baby.

[DawgHouse]

14. Oh my, your dog being on guard like that has got to be stressful!

[phylny]

12. We have some luck with Rescue Remedy for pets.

Jack is traumatized by fireworks and lightning, but about 20 minutes after giving him four drops on a piece of bread, he's much more relaxed.

[Phentex]

13. First time in more than a decade, I don't have that fear...

because we lost the big scaredy cat dog last month. But, yes, fireworks were a problem. It seems like there was always someone who didn't want to go see the neighborhood fireworks so he had somebody home with him. But like your neighbors, there were always fireworks for several days before and after the fourth.

I understand what you are going through. Sorry about that.