We have just spent the first of what will be at least 3 nights of fireworks, Misty our year old cocker spaniel has spent nearly 3 hours barking despite having the television on to try and drown out the sound. Unfortunately the sound seems to echo around our close amplyfying the sound
Does any one have a solution? I gave her some rescue remedy but that did not appear to help. We spent most of the time playing with her ,trying to distract her.
I thought she was going to be ok because we were out walking recently and there must have been a shoot near by and that did not bother her. She has calmed down now but she will have two more nights of this.Should I give the rescue remedy before it gets dark or is there a better remedy we have not got a sound proof bunker!
Regards Sue S

Give Misty some Rescue Remedy about 3pm and then keep topping it up with about another dose every hour. When the fireworks start in earnest, you can give her some every half hour.

Keep the tv or radio on fairly loud and the curtains closed. Don't overfuss her to soothe her, or she'll think there's something to worry about. If she wants to go off and hide under the table or something, let her. It's her way of dealing with it.

Should rescue remedy still not have any effect, you can get "crisis remedy" or "emergency essence" too, both of which are a little stronger.

Fireworks today seem more percussive than gunshots and affect some dogs more. We had one on friday night which was the start of a big local display, and I honestly thought a bomb had gone off for a second.............our windows rattled in our house! I've got my scaredy dog on RR and she's calmed down from a shivering heap hiding undr the bed, to a quiet girl who just wants to sit near my feet. It does work, but you might need to give Misty more, over a longer time period.

Good luck, it's a miserable time of year for dogs:-((

K.

Thanks for the advice Lurcherlass I will start dosing her earlier tonight .
Sue S

This year I have had my dogs on Denes Nerve Tablets for a period of time prior to firewrk night and I will probably keep them on a maintenance dose. This year the dogs have been far less stressed although I did top up the very fearful ones with half an acp tablet and they were extremely calm throughout the whole night with hardly a woof amongst them although Polly does enjoy running outside and shouting at them!

D'you not find the Ace zonks them out completely though? I gave that to mine once (before I discovered RR) and they were zombie-like for about two days, couldn't walk straight, wouldn't eat or anything:-(

Mind you, with mine being lurchers, it probably is absorbed more easily coz of their low body fat (Oh I wish I was a Lurcher!!!) which could explain it.

A friend of mine is trying the nerve tablets this year, but she still needed some RR as well over the loudest firework period..........her dog (sheltie size) was jumping up on the worktops and climbing up the walls:-(

K.

You could try LIQUID skullcap & valerian which acts on mine almost instantly Bit late for you to get it for this year But I always have some in my dog first aid kit

The solution would be to Ban fireworks but I don't think that will eber happen

I've been giving Scarlet "Rescue Remedy" too, but she's still in a terrible state - I feel so helpless because I don't know what to do to help her - I know that fussing her will make her feel even more scared and I really hate to see her like this (Ava can't make out what's wrong with Scarlet because the fireworks don't bother her at all). Scarlet shakes from head to foot, she pants too, she paces up and down and can't settle, won't go out for a pee either. I've been walking the dogs in the early afternoon to try and avoid the onset of the fireworks, but yesterday someone lit a firework in the woods and Scarlet bolted - I was really scared because I didn't think she was going to come back to me, but fortunately she did come back safely, needless to say I put her straight back on the lead, cut our walk short and headed straight back home (can't wait 'till it's all over - but unfortunately in my area we have other festivals in which fireworks play a big part, - the "firework season" just seems to go on and on and on...)

Hi Mair

I don't walk my dogs at all for the same reason you cut your walk short

You could try a course of tablet Skullcap & valerian starting a few days before the fireworks are due & topping up twice a day

They don't have the effect of ACP's which are a strong sedative S&V seems to chill the dogs & relax them

I might takesome myself the the fireworks go on much longer !

Of my 3 only Merlin the little JR/PBGV is worried by fireworks and I used to fuss him when he was younger.
It all started with him being scared by the gun fire when we came across one of the local shoots and he immediately ran to me for protection, this is what he always does now, and as we are in the shooting as well as firework season it means I don't have to worry when we are out for walks as he always runs straight back to me. Ingrid

Where would I be able to buy Scullcap tablets? - would it be on prescription from the vet?
Thanks
Mair

Hi Mair

Dorwest Herbs sell Skullcap & Valerian tablets no vet required

Doreen Paige has the liquid version which is quicker acting

Thanks a million Katie, I've written it down now I can go and have a mooch around for some
Mair