Protect furry friends from seasonal upsets

On July 5 you can expect to see postings and flyers for “Lost Dogs” on social media and in store windows. The fireworks of Independence Day always send a lot of domestic pets into panic and frenzy, causing them to bolt from their yards and run blindly into the unknown.

This season’s thunderstorms are also doing a number on local dogs. A Labrador accustomed to gunfire may react quite differently to a clap of thunder. A terrier who’s brave enough to stand down a badger may become catatonic when he hears firecrackers.

Fortunately, responsible dog owners can take precautions to protect their dogs from these seasonal upsets:

1. Keep pets securely indoors during electrical storms and fireworks parties. Plan for someone to stay with them in an environment that muffles the sounds. Add other sounds, like radio or TV, to override the bad stuff.

2. Invest in a “thunder shirt,” which is a stretchy wrap that swaddles your dog. These shirts, available in pet stores and online, are proven to offer physiological relief to stressed-out dogs. No one know for sure how they work, but they do.

3. If your pet is upset about the noise outside, try putting a drop of lavender essential oil on his paw. The lavender has a calming effect.

4. Buy a little bottle of “Rescue Remedy,” a tried-and-true homeopathic concoction made from bach flower essence. Put a few drops under your dog’s tongue. “Rescue Remedy” has been around for many decades and is safe enough to use on babies.

5. Be sure your dog is wearing a collar or harness with ID tags clearly visible. The tags should have a current phone number and physical address so a good samaritan who picks up your wandering dog can contact you immediately. You can also use a Sharpie to write your dog’s name and phone number on a nylon collar. Microchips are good, but they require a professional with a chip reader. That can cause considerable delay in getting your dog back home to you.

6. Be sure your yard is escape-proof. Panicky dogs have been known to scale fences or rip them apart with their teeth in a frenzied effort to get away.

7. If your sound-sensitive dog has extreme anxiety you can’t seem to soothe, consider asking your veterinarian for a prescription sedative. Remember, however, that most of these must be administered before the noisy event. Hence, they may not work for thunderstorms, but could help your dog be more comfortable during a scheduled fireworks event in your neighborhood.

Jan Manning,

Sanders County Dog Training Club