fireworks

Re: fireworks

BengalcatRVN — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 14:02:09 GMT

I'm very lucky, my cats couldn't care less about fireworks, they sometimes wake up for the first bang, but quickly settle back to sleep. Had one lady call up angry that Xanax hadn't work and wanting to scream at the vet as she thought the dog was going to have a heart attack. I was a bit confused till she mentioned she was in the garden with him. Thought it was crazy, "But he's a YARD dog, the vet knows him" Yes, this dog lives outside. Is given drugs that don't help because he has direct exposure. ACP failed last year too, she wanted to just double the dose to see if it helped, OMG, I could have screamed at that point.

I agree its getting worse each year. :o/ Poor animals.

Re: fireworks

Fuzzyduck — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:57:46 GMT

[quote user="Vicky SVN"]

I've never heard about not using Zylkene and Diazepam together. Where did you hear it from? Am hoping it doesn't do any harm...

Jack turned out to be ok last night. We had to go out for my bro in laws bday so my nurse friend came round and sat with him. Apparently he laid on the sofa with her and was settled most of the time. We've had a few go off tonight but he's stretched out on the floor snoozing! I'll be carrying on with everything but Diazepam until new year , i figure it won't do any harm. Will give him Diazepam new years eve.

[/quote]

A nurse at my practice is doing a behavior degree and she said they cant be used together.

Also one of the vets was really annoyed as it doesnt say on zylkeine packet that it cant be used with diazepam and she said it cant either. She was going to contact them and tell them that it should be on the packaging clearly as lots of people are using them together.

Not sure if it does any harm though

Re: fireworks

Vicky RVN — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 18:26:37 GMT

I've never heard about not using Zylkene and Diazepam together. Where did you hear it from? Am hoping it doesn't do any harm...

Re: fireworks

Kim Buckley — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 17:18:32 GMT

My dog who did bother about fireworks is now deaf and Millie doesn't care about them. She just barks at them if she is out in the garden when they go off. My g-pigs don't care either. They just sit there munching away. Lucky really.

Re: fireworks

Sally Seddon — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 17:06:46 GMT

Im lucky enough that my dog doesnt bother about fireworks. Snoozes right thru them. We had loads around here the last few nights, more than usual.

Re: fireworks

Nicola Smith — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 16:49:54 GMT

I had a hellish night last night. Kendall was fine last year with his dap an didnt bother at all so just used zylkene this year but he was awful, not sure if its just that he is a bit older now, or the lack of the DAP. He lay shaking all night and coldnt get him to settle in his bed, ended up sitting up with him till they stopped - very late, then he still whined for 30 mins in his bed beofre settling even though he normally loves his bed. I just hope tis isnt going to be the trigger for more whining at bedtime - he has never done this before even as a puppy. They are going off here already!

Re: fireworks

Fuzzyduck — Sun, 07 Nov 2010 16:35:01 GMT

I was told you cant use zylkiene and diazepam together, and if your dog has been on zylkeine and it hasnt been affective you cant then move on to diazepam as it works on the same receptors in the brain so will have no effect.

Re: fireworks

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 18:49:28 GMT

My next door neighbours had fireworks last night, that really didn't help the situation! He was an absolute mess despite the xanax.

My dog too was scared by his first firework at 1pm this afternoon!

Re: fireworks

Vicky RVN — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 15:43:37 GMT

I AM FUMING!!!!! Just after 3 o'clock today i set off with Jack to take him for a nice walk and get back home by 4 o'clock to drug him up ready for when it gets dark at 4.30. I got down the end of the road and what happened? Some MORON decided it would be a good idea to set off a blooming firework! FFS i now have a trembling dog because i haven't yet drugged him. And it's likely the diazepam, zylkene and scullcap aren't going to do their job so well. So he might end up having to have a higher dose of diazepam. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr i am sooooo angry at inconsiderate morons

How did everyone else find last night with their pets? I gave Jack 10mg diazepam at 4, later in the eve had to top him up with another 5mg. He wasn't great but better than he has been so far. I hate having to use diazepam on him, but don't like seeing him so terrified.

Re: fireworks

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:42:32 GMT

Well I used Xanax for the first time (wanted to try out the dose before so I know what he needs) last night and my pooch was so much better more relaxed and even wanted to play which he hasn't done since all the fireworks started going off. Granted there wasn't a huge amount going off last night but there were some and he didn't really react to them. Might be a different question when they all start going off this weekend.

Re: fireworks

Kim Buckley — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:35:17 GMT

I've heard hardly any fireworks so far this year! Normally you hear them weeks before the 5th!

Re: fireworks

Tracey Louise — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 18:06:12 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite VN, MBVNA, C-SQP"]

Diazepam it will stop the memory of the night before it wont stop him getting worked up but the usefulness is the mind altering properties of it whatever else you use the big D is a must

[/quote]

May be a strange question but I was just wondering how you would know that there is no memory of the night before?

We have 1 vet that swears by Diazepam for phobias but our other 3 vets are not so keen.

We are not selling much DAP feliway or zylkene due to price

Re: fireworks

Vicky RVN — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:32:01 GMT

Well i've now got Jack (20.1kg) on:

DAP plug in
Zylkene (450mg as he's just over weight for the 225mg, may reduce down if he seems ok, or just keep him on it)
Scullcap and Valarian (5 tablets)

He had Zylkene last night for first time, a firework went off that i just about heard, he looked up then settled back down again. Started the Scullcap tonight, so will see how he is when more go off (none so far tonight). I've also got some Diazepam which i might use over the weekend. What dose do people tend to use? I've been told to use 20mg.

Re: fireworks

Sally Howe — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:55:28 GMT

I've got Herc on Zyklene (since end of Sept) and DAP collar and so far this year he has been much better this year (so far) as his dog brick comes out when the cd's are played, ignores sounds scary now but reacts to Zyklene cd. Now the dog brick is out again which means hunt the sweeties

Re: fireworks

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 16:19:26 GMT

Thanks for that Lucy, its a great statement very informative. Especially helpful for me.

Thanks you a

Re: fireworks

Lucy Brett — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:47:26 GMT

Hello all,

I just thought I would make you all aware of this. Hope this is useful...

Policy Statement on the Management and Treatment of Firework Phobias in Dogs

It is recognised that dogs may show signs of fear or phobia of the loud noises associated with fireworks. It is the duty of veterinary surgeons to recommend and support evidence-based therapies for this noise fear or phobia in order that they may improve the welfare of animals under their care. A new policy statement has been added to the BSAVA site with this in mind.

The summary of recommendations finds that the management of phobias should involve evidence-based treatments including behavioural management, anxiolytic/amnestic drugs and support with pheromones. The policy statement suggests that management of phobias is not enough, as with any other chronic, degenerative condition it is essential that phobias be treated. Treatments should also involve evidence-based treatments. The policy statement includes full guidance notes on short-term management and long term therapies, includes information on drugs and is fully referenced.

http://www.bsava.com/Advice/PolicyStatements/ManagementandTreatmentofFireworkPhobias/tabid/495/Default.aspx

Re: fireworks

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:13:31 GMT

Even the ones that sound really quiet to us he is reacting to, adn once they start usually around 6pm he won't settle until he goes to bed.

He can't seem to settle anywhere can't seem to find a place that he wants a den and the poor might is not eating properly either.

So I think for his sake i'm going to have to use the xanax.

Does anyone have an experience of using this in thier own pets?

Re: fireworks

Polly P — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 02:18:01 GMT

Loud fireworks are a bloody stupid idea, I have hated them since about 2001 when I went to a New Years Eve house party and spent most of the time between 23.30 and 1am under the couch with the terrified resident dogs trying to comfort them while their owners and friends clapped and gawped at the noisy noises...

Something that upsets animals that much on such a grand scale should simply not be allowed.

I think fireworks are beautiful and impressive, but there's really no need for the noise!

When I was a kid, fireworks were one night of the year, when you knew where you were, keep the animals in etc, sedate the horses... Not perfect but at least you could prepare for it.

Now it seems that firework season goes from the start of October to the middle of November, then a little gap before christmas fireworks, then New Year... And of course, any birthdays, christenings, wedding parties etc, are all a 'good' time for them too...

If some entrepeneur created a brand of silent fireworks, I reckon they'd make a fortune from people with animals and young kids...

Often kids are as scared of the noise as animals, and even the kids that like it are often in bed by the time the random thugs start throwing them about, so get disorientated and scared...

Of my four cats, two of them run like hell at the slightest sound of fireworks, one of them is ok as long as I don't react, but sometimes gets freaked and burrows under my duvet...

And boss cat (the Tortie ) Sleeps soundly through most of it, doesn't bat an eyelid, and occasionally if one is really loud, half wakes up and gives me that look that says

'biatch, please! tell that fool to walk over this way with his bang bang, and I will scratch a Catherine- wheel shaped scar into his face...'

Re: fireworks

Emma Bartlett — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 21:48:25 GMT

They need to be calm before giving it, i have never used it in my own dogs but any dogs we have prescribed it to have been much better. As with diazepam it has the 'won't remember in the morning' effect and you should still do all the other bits.....making them a den, music/tv on etc etc

My neighbours collie was so frightened of noise and would get behing the tv and literally climb up the wall......he was dumped on me last bonfire night and New Years Eve (her husband was away with RAF and i felt sorry for her, thought he was visiting her family, turns out she was having an affair) scullcap and valerian & DAP and my friend's chihuahua's sorted him out......collie was so busy playing with the little dog he missed all the fireworks!!!!

Re: fireworks

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 14:40:14 GMT

I had my Dap plugged in from beggining of October in all rooms the dog goes in and he also has a DAP collar on and tried on the scullcap to but its just not cutting it this year. I think I will have to go with the Alprazolam. Do you know what sort of effects are experieinced with this drug?

Re: fireworks

Emma Bartlett — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 13:50:16 GMT

Not ACP due to ethical reasons.......we use Diazepam or Alprazolam(from Sarah Heath course).

I personally use Scullcap and Valerian for my own dogs along with DAP(i plug it in start of October) and they are much better

Re: fireworks

Charlotte Fitzgerald — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:51:30 GMT

I too am having real problems this year. Last year my pooch hid in a den we made for him and got by with the Dap. This year however a much different story and I'm afraid to say after our experience this weekend I will need to use something stronger this year. Have tryed the skullcap and valerian, Dap and Zylkene but to no avail this time.

What does everyone use re sedation or valium type products. I am unfortunately out of touch with this knd of thing as in referral practice, so looking for your advice please.

Re: fireworks

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:32:21 GMT

Diazepam it will stop the memory of the night before it wont stop him getting worked up but the usefulness is the mind altering properties of it whatever else you use the big D is a must

Re: fireworks

Vicky RVN — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 21:07:15 GMT

[quote user="loobylou"]

My dog seems to be getting worse each year

The first year I had him he didnt even blink an eyelid at them, tonight hes been wedged on the sofa between me and other panting and shaking like mad. And hes followed me everywhere. Then just when he had calmed down we had another burst!
Didnt get him anything from work as he hasnt been too bad in previous years, just sits in his bed and shakes.
Will be sorting him out some meds at work tomorrow.

[/quote]

Snap!!! Jack is now scared of the bloody things He's sat shaking and panting. Can hear his collar jingling cos he's shaking so much. I've got the DAP plugged in, i'll pop to work to get some Zylkene tomorrow. We don't keep Scullcap and Valarian in stock so would need to order it in on monday to arrive tues. Can you use in at the same time as Zylkene? What do people find works best?

Re: fireworks

Vicky RVN — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:39:35 GMT

Oh FFS they just set off some more...the sparks are going all over that gardens. And i've just thought, and old lady lives next door to them. I hope it hasn't scared her half to death, she's not in great health as it is!