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My 78 year old Mom is just about at her wits end...
She hand raised her Australian Shepard since day one... he had a congenital problem that thankfully he out-grew... being the runt of the litter, his brothers and sisters dominated when he was born.
Fast forward 11 years... he is the sweetest, great with people/children dog you could want. They go for long daily walks and strangers are always commenting on well behaved and handsome her dog is.
The problem is over the last year, he goes into full panic at the sound of fireworks/shots... to the point the only way to calm him is to take him is to take him into her arms... which she can't do...
He is always calm at the vet and the vet says things will get better now that the 4th of July is over... no such luck. The vet does not believe in drugging animals and we don't know what to do.
Mom lives in Oakland and the 4th of July Celebration last for about 6 weeks... Last week, the Oakland A's game went into extra innings and after midnight the fireworks show started... the poor guy was inconsolable and the noise from the game fireworks rattled the windows.
If he is outside and hears a shot... no matter how faint he bolts and now will climb a 6' high cyclone fence... something he has never done before...
In desperation, I put a hot wire on the top of the fence and he still goes over it...
Should we find another vet... are drugs an option?
My parents lived a few miles from Disneyland and they heard fireworks every night and on the 4th it was always worse as the neighbors behind them set off a firework show that was 100% illegal yet they got away with it year after year then there were also the legal fireworks so lots of noise and as the dogs got older they got very stressed by it all. My mom started giving them melatonin and that did take the edge off. So it is another inexpensive thing you can try.
My parents lived a few miles from Disneyland and they heard fireworks every night and on the 4th it was always worse as the neighbors behind them set off a firework show that was 100% illegal yet they got away with it year after year then there were also the legal fireworks so lots of noise and as the dogs got older they got very stressed by it all. My mom started giving them melatonin and that did take the edge off. So it is another inexpensive thing you can try.
I'm thinking there has to be an age component because fireworks were never a problem the first 8-9 years... I couldn't believe her 11 year old dog could actually climb a cyclone fence till I saw him going over the top...
My dogs get Happy Traveler around the 4th, it helps take the edge off, they are still alert but calmer. If a thundershirt and natural remedies don't help I would look at a different vet who may be more sympathetic to the dog's new issues.
The fireworks have greatly diminished and he is not longer getting out... I'm sure a part of it is due to the hot wire...
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