And now, a word from the dog
Hey there, it’s me, your dog Mi-Perro. (You know my name means “my dog” in Spanish, right?) I want to share some thoughts with you about me and thunder and fireworks.
It’s summertime! Nice warm days. Time for playing on the grass and chasing balls. But also, time for those loud fireworks and thunderstorms.
I don’t like those sudden, loud noises. My hearing is sensitive, and those sounds seem dangerous and can scare me. When I get scared, I might want to run away, and if I do, I might get lost. I don’t want to get lost. There are other ways I might show you that those noises are making me anxious, too: I might tremble, howl, bark or try to hide.
I don’t like being scared, and you can help me feel less anxious. First, please don’t take me to fireworks shows. I love being with you, but not there.
During a thunderstorm or fireworks display, bring me inside and stay with me to help calm me. Talk to me in a soothing, even tone and pet me with long, slow strokes. A quiet haven away from the noise and light flashes would be wonderful, like a room without windows or a spot in the basement. Familiar toys and treats help, too.
Turn on a fan, TV or soft music to help mask those disturbing noises. Or we could try dog-friendly headphones or earmuffs. I’ve also heard that playing the sounds of fireworks softly ahead of time can help me get used to hearing them.
There’s even a kind of coat for me to wear, called a calming coat, anxiety wrap, or anxiety vest. No matter what you call it, it provides a gentle, constant pressure around my torso that helps calm me, like the way swaddling can soothe a baby. Just please help me get used to it before we need it.
And here’s something… some of these ideas might even help the cat, too. Wait… squirrel? No, never mind. Now where was I? Oh, yes… these are just a few ideas that might help. The people at our vet’s office will probably have more good ideas. (Just don’t let them know I think they have good ideas!)
Together, let’s figure out what works to help me feel less anxious, and then our summers will be even better.
For more helpful ideas, visit lonetreevet.com/blog/ and search “thunder,” or akc.org and search “fireworks.”
By Susan Helton; courtesy photo
