calling all dog mama's

NLewis1 · June 2014

I have two very adorable border collies who are 2 years old. However, thunderstorms and especially fireworks put them into complete terror mode. We've had a few short thunderstorms which we generally make it through ok, but I'm concerned about the 4th of July as fireworks all day/night are really going to have them freaked out. Long story short, has anyone ever used this product? Thoughts? Should I just get with my vet and get some sedatives to use that day/night? Also, sorry for the wall of text.... I'm mobile

NLewis1 · June 2014

I've heard of those... thunder shirts I think is what they are called. I found what's in the pic at a local pet shop and wanted opinions before I tried it... they are drops you give the dogs...i dont think my dogs would ever let me get a thunder shirt on them... they would fight me tooth and nail

kiley820 · June 2014

I'm a vet tech and also have a fearful dog (thunderstorms & fireworks) . We have always used a Thunder Shirt and this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0030NWZUC?pc_redir=1403417122&robot_redir=1

It has always worked great for us and the vets at my practice recommend it to all their patients with fearful dogs.

When we know there is going to be a high anxiety/ stressful situation (4th of July) we try and exercise her more that day so she is tired. Also, of course it helps to keep the tv or radio on, anything to help drown out the loud noises.

KittyMisha · June 2014

I used to have a dog with similar issues. When thunder or fireworks started, we'd put her in the laundry room with food and water and run the dryer continuously until it stopped. So if the thunder shirt doesn't work, maybe try that?

NLewis1 · June 2014

Thanks ladies. I pretty much figured a call to my vet was my best bet. I hate seeing my boys shaking and upset

NLewis1 · June 2014

@KittyMisha that sounds like a fabulous idea, but won't work in our case. We don't have a laundry "room". Our washer and dryer are in a closet off the living room. I always am sure to run the swamp cooler and all the TVs in the house, but its never quite covered up the noise enough to calm them down. My next step was going to be either the drops i put in the OP, or callling my vet and seeing about medication they can prescribe. I don't want to give my dogs something Im not sure is really good for them, so thought I would see if anyone had experience with that brand I posted. Will be giving my vet a call tomorrow! Thanks for the help guys!

Jentech84 · June 2014

I'd say either the D.A.P. diffuser and/or thunder shirt for your dogs

NLewis1 · June 2014

@Jentech84 what is the D.A.P diffuser?

liz4paws · June 2014

Huge fan of the thundershirt here. Our dog was incapacitated during our frequent central texas thunder storms. He would sit in the corner and shake violently. I finally got him a thundershirt at Petco and was skeptical, but that first night it worked right away. Doesn't get rid of all of the fear, but I'd rather have him a little nervous than cowering in the corner in a terrified trance. It's way better than sedation, in my opinion!

GL

Jules_Shamblin · June 2014

trawas01 said:

Benadryl. It will make them dozy enough that most dogs are fine through thunderstorms or fireworks. Call your vet for how much to dose them.

Ditto. Our dog only needs 1/2 his dosage for a dog his size to calm down during fireworks. It works wonders and our vet explained it as safe because apparently the active ingredient in Benadryl is a really old medicine that they know pretty much everything there is to know about. I just wrap his 1/2 pill in a piece of lunch meant and he is calm withing 15 min or so. Good luck!

caballablanca · June 2014

They make a thing like the glade plug ins that give off pheromones that are suppost to calm them. Also my mom would do just a snug tshirt on the dog (if you dont want to pay for the thunder shirt) It's not always the noise with thunderstorms, sometimes the static in the air bothers them too. If it is the noise, you could always drown out the noise with some cspan or cnn. Someone talking can be soothing.

kiley820 · June 2014

Oh, also, you can try setting up camp for them in the bathroom if you have the space. Supposedly the tile/tub cuts down on the electricity in the air which is what is the main stressor for a lot of dogs. Obviously, if they aren't having it don't force it. Some prefer their crate or hiding in the corner or under a table/bed.

I know it sucks to see them visibly upset but let them do their thing. It's ok if they want to be by your side but don't encourage the behavior or tell them "It's ok". You don't want them to associate storms/loud noises and their reaction to them as a positive thing, if that makes sense? I know it's hard not to reassure them as most think they are comforting them but it's really not good.

One last thing..not to knock Benadryl or those who use it because it is perfectly ok in the right dosage but Rescue Remedy is an all natural herbal supplement. I'd start there if I were you, combined with a Thunder Shirt. Then maybe try Benadryl or a prescription if that doesn't work. Different things of course work for different dogs

enigmasara · June 2014

One good thing about the Thundershirt is that if it doesn't work the company will give you a full refund. They then donate the used Thundershirt to a rescue/humane society.

I have a very fearful dog too, haven't bought the Thundershirt myself because I'm a slacker & always forget to when I'm out. I have tried Benadryl, Prozac, and some of the pheromone stuff with her with no luck at all.

NLewis1 · June 2014

@kiley820 what a smart answer! I totally coddle them when we go through a thunderstorm and didn't think about the fact that I'm reinforcing their fear! We didn't have this problem last 4th of July because we were camping and no one had fireworks in the mtns (thank god, of course). We didn't realize how upset they made both dogs until about midnight on new years eve when some unruly law breakers shot some off

haha

kiley820 · June 2014

NLewis1 said:
@kiley820 what a smart answer! I totally coddle them when we go through a thunderstorm and didn't think about the fact that I'm reinforcing their fear! We didn't have this problem last 4th of July because we were camping and no one had fireworks in the mtns (thank god, of course). We didn't realize how upset they made both dogs until about midnight on new years eve when some unruly law breakers shot some off haha

Haha, I'm glad it made sense and is helpful

And don't feel bad! I used to do the same before I knew better. You live and you learn! Working as a vet tech now I have had some clients get upset when I tell them this. Totally not your fault.. it's natural to want to comfort your "babies"

Hopefully one or a few of these things will help them relax! Good luck and let us know how it goes!

con07s · June 2014

I haven't heard of that one but I've heard the thunder shirt is amazing!!! My vet sells the product and I've talked to several people that swear by it! Bought of amazon too.

mdarmetko · June 2014

This won't work for your dogs because they are bigger, but I have 2 tiny dogs and found out that our mei tai carrier works for calming the anxious one down. I'm only mentioning it because it's a funny, ridiculous solution, but it works. Also, if I sit or lay next to him and put a blanket over him he calms down.

NLewis1 · June 2014

I like the idea of crates, but our dogs do not use them. Our one dog we got as a puppy at 7 weeks old, he had lived in a large playpen with his mama and litter mates and when we went to crate train him, he HATED it. We stuck it out until he was potty trained, but he learned quick and was only 4 months or so before he was completely trained. We did everything our trainer told us to do - that dog just hates confined spaces. Our groomer even just let's him lay down in the middle of her shop because he freaks when he's in her kennel. Our other dog I rescued from our local humane society. He was 6 months old at the time (the same age as our other dog was at the time) and part of a neglect case. He spent the whole first 6 months of his life in a kennel. We bought one for him when we got him, but left the door open, and he slept in it and hid in it for the first six months and then completely stopped using it and decided his fluffy dog bed next to my H's side of the bed was much better

. Now if we try to kennel him he freaks out too. Sorry this was long, and a giant wall of text.... stupid mobile

.

Allison7 · June 2014

Otis hates fireworks and the 4th is his least favorite holiday. Plus, some of our neighbors are fireworks happy and they put them off for everything...we just had a round for flag day. We have thought about the thundershirt, but haven't tried it yet. He usually just comes over to us and snuggles close while occasionally barking to let us know that something is happening outside. We give him his pets and snuggle and it stops the shaking. Since he is a hound, we are used to a lot of barking.

Thunderstorms are a little more complicated. He has been better about sleeping or just laying through them, but if the storm is really bad he will stand directly over me. I don't want to reinforce that it is okay to be terrified, but when you have an 80lbs dog standing on top of you in the middle of the night, you pet and hug him and try to get him to settle. My parents old cocker spaniel also used to haver a fit with storms, so my mom would take her into a closet without windows. It was interior so the sound was more muted and she couldn't see the lightening anymore and that seemed to really help.

gahorseygal · June 2014

The thunder shirt works to stop our dog from shaking but the magic ingredient is a sock. Cut the end off a sock and put over your dogs head. They look ridiculous but this helps our dog!

NLewis1 · June 2014

sarahsimon said:

The thunder shirt works to stop our dog from shaking but the magic ingredient is a sock. Cut the end off a sock and put over your dogs head. They look ridiculous but this helps our dog!

*stuck in quote box*

HAHAHAHA. do your dogs not freak out and try desperately to get it off??!!

gahorseygal · June 2014

Nope! @NLewis1 it completely chills her out. She kinda freezes for a bit and then relaxes and lays down.

NLewis1 · June 2014

@sarahsimon that just cracks me up. I'll have to try it on my dogs....and perhaps video their reaction

happylady07 · June 2014

My aunt swears by the thunder shirt for her anxious dog!

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calling all dog mama's

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Re: calling all dog mama&#039;s

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

Mrs. H

Crohn's Dx: August 2008

Endometriosis Dx: May 2010

Married: 05/19/2012

TTC #1: June 2013

BFP: December 2013

DS: Born 08/29/2014

TTC #2: July 2015

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Re: calling all dog mama's