Basenji Companions - Health Section - Fourth of July Safety for Your Dog

Fourth of July Safety for Your Dog

Cheryl Silver, Texas

It won't be long before we start hearing fireworks going off. One thing you can count on is that your dogs will hear the fireworks before you do. Their sense of hearing beats ours big-time. For the dog that is allowed to live in the house with the family, most likely you will note your dog's agitation -- pacing, panting, inexplicable digging, among other signs -- and wonder what is going on. For the dog that is not allowed in the house, the dog's terror may play itself out by the dog jumping a fence that they have never challenged before or frantic scratching on the door in an effort to get in.

This is a time of very high risk for your dog. The folks at the local Town Lake Animal Center will tell you that a very large influx of dogs is seen down there at this time of the year because these terrorized dogs break loose and run in an effort to find a safe place. Sadly, many of these loose dogs are hit by cars and killed when running down the road.

Here are some of my personal recommendations for dealing with this problem:

Make sure your dog is always wearing her collar and tags so that you can be contacted if she does escape the yard. Make sure the collar fits well. I recommend a flat nylon collar (they don't stretch) and it should be fitted snuggly enough that you can slip only two fingers under the collar.
Make sure your dog is safely inside the house from the time the sun starts to set. When the dog goes out to potty before bedtime, go with her so you can monitor her. You don't want her to go out there alone and be startled by a firecracker going off as soon as she goes outside.
Check our a product called Rescue Remedy (I know it is available at Sun Harvest stores and probably at Whole Foods). I give a dropper full to one of my dogs. Sometimes, I give her an extra dropper full.
Inside the house, you may find that your dog is able to relax in a bathroom if you turn the lights on and turn on the exhaust fan, as well.
If your dog is already crate trained, crating the dog and covering the crate with a cloth may soothe your dog.
Wrapping your dog's torso snuggly with ace bandages will help sometimes. This technique changed the life of one of my dogs for the better. I have a picture of her wrapped up if you would like to see it. Just drop me a note.
Do not assume that since your dog has not been stressed in the past, that it will not be a problem this year. It is very common for dogs who have not had this fear to develop it later on. The only dogs who seem to lose this anxiety are those that lose their hearing in old age. If you have a dog that used to be fearful of these loud noises/storms and is no longer, you might check out his hearing. Many people are stunned to realize that their dog has gone deaf because the dog has adapted so well.
If you choose to take your dog with you to a fireworks display, please, please, please make sure their collar is fitted snuggly so they cannot slip out, and keep the dog on leash at all times.