Any experiences?  At the moment I have diazepam (D) for Phoebe for fireworks night, however I've been more interested in alprazolam (A) all along as everything I'm reading seems to be pointing to it being much more effective both for that and for general noise phobia problems such as hers.

She's had a D tonight as we were attempting a little training earlier, finally started to get somewhere (great in itself as training worries her, bad past experience) then fireworks started far away - so far I could only just hear them with my head out of the window - and she totally spooked, started pacing and building up to a small panic.  So she's had a D.

But; it makes her a little wobbly.  Not good for a dog who is up and down the stairs a lot, and who bolts up them if she gets scared (and gets more scared if that 'escape route' is shut off).  Tonight she's also being spooky-jumpy at odd things - at nothing on the floor earlier, then at Raine.  As she's got enough things to spook at already, I don't really want her having more!

Now as she only has a few Ds left, I'll need to stock up soon (and the dose she has is clearly not going to be enough for fireworks night(s) proper) so I'm thinking of asking for A.  Long term she should be on fluoxetine daily but will still need one-off stuff.

Just wondered what people's experiences were of either, good or bad?

Haven't used either, but just picking up on your mention of fireworks.  Why do they start so bloody early?  A friend was round tonight, and asked if he could take my younger Beardie out for a walk. 

Seems she was really enjoying herself, until, on the return walk home, a banger went off and she was really spooked.  Friend was dragged home at high speed!!

> Why do they start so bloody early?

They go on sale far too early. Tescos started selling them yesterday, October 15th.
There were a few going off tonight when I was out in the park - dog noticed them but didn't seem too bothered - but I echo you... WHY so early?? I don't know when Diwali is but not many people here celebrate it - that's the only reason I can think of.

Otherwise, on sale from 1st November til the 6th seems sensible to me.

Morrisons have been selling them here for a week already.  It's disgusting - not only are there quiet alternatives, the sales window is FAR too big, and they shouldn't be selling to the public at all.  I don't get why it's ok to sell explosives to the GP, especially given the year-on-year reports of idiots misusing them, and continual pet problems.  I read something yesterday that suggested as much as 49% of pets had problems with fireworks, and a huge chunk of those were simply because the allowed noise level is much higher than that they can tolerate.  So the fear reaction they show is actually perfectly normal when faced with an intolerably loud bang.

I honestly think it's high time public sales were banned and that the very noisy ones fell under animal cruelty.

I also have a dog who is terrified of fireworks and I have a stash of D also they are 10mg and the other night I gave her 2 in the end as she was so distressed. I have spoken with my vet about this and as a 'friendly' vet has gone through the motions with me regarding there use as they ARE NOT a long term option only on the day/moment or short term etc, highly addictive for humans but can also cause behaviour issues in dogs if used to often and for to long. They are good as mentioned for training in some respects, to help the dog feel safe etc.

They do take the edge off my bitch and bring her back down to earth LITERALLY, they do not make her wobbly though, and I have only given them when needed, a 3 times over the last 2 weeks, kids setting off bangers at night..!!!! I HATE IT and so does she.

Are they dispensed from your vet or just ones you have around ? of course they the ones the vets dispense are the same human ones, which can be dispensed online from UK chemists via some loophole ?? don't know how but they can and that is where I got mine from :/ they are genuine and my vet has confirmed this along with the company actavis.

I have along with my vet gone down this road, as this bitch was a rescue and is a big dog and has already hurt herself during her panic, this is done to help her. We will make a plan of action to over come this hopefully for next year.

Mine are from the vet, the first one she had was one of Logan's but the vet did specifically tell me to try her on it as a test run (as she doesn't react how I'd expect to a lot of calming things).

Result though, I asked the vet nurse earlier to ask him about the A and explain about the D, because of the wobbliness and what they think are hallucinations (with the odd spooking at nothing), he's put some A on order for me so I should have that tomorrow :-)

That was easy for a change!