Hi lovely Labrador lovers, Molly my beautiful brown lab had a really bad panic attack last night, we found her cowering in a corner, trembling all over and panting so much I was worried she would give herself a heart attack. We realised immediately that she had been badly frightened by the fireworks that were being set off as part of the Divali celebrations but we just couldn't calm her down. We sat on the floor with her and just stroked her and reassured her but the shaking and panting went on for a couple of hours. With 5th November approaching I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any good calming products that can be used, I've had an Adaptil collar in the past when we first got her but last night I felt that she needed something immediate to calm her breathing, if she was human I would have had her breathing into a paper bag! Would appreciate any advise. Sue C
Re: Extreme anxiety attack How distressing, so sorry to hear that. I'm really glad you comforted her - that's the right thing to do (no, it won't reinforce her fear of fireworks). If it is very severe, might your vet prescribe something? I don't know whether that's the right thing to do, but might be worth asking? There is an article here: http://www.thelabradorsite.com/dogs-and-fireworks/
Re: Extreme anxiety attack I would definitely talk to your vet over a reaction like that. Best of luck!
Re: Extreme anxiety attack Oh poor Molly...I'm so glad you were there with her ,we live in Dubai and there's been firecrackers going off everywhere ....thankfully we are ok with them ,let us know if you do have a chat to the vet and what they say,you won't be the only person facing this in the next couple of weeks x Best wishes Angela x
Re: Extreme anxiety attack Oh dear, the poor love... My old boy was frightened by thunder and fireworks (the current one doesn't blink an eyelid) - he used to find the tiniest corner to squeeze into and shiver and shake. I found the best way to help him was to close the curtains, turn the tv on loudly, and to cover him up, head and all, with a blanket. Hope you manage to get past the dreaded 5 November without too much trouble.
Re: Extreme anxiety attack My sympathy goes to you. We had a dog that hated fireworks or loud bangs and promised that we'd never go through it again. For Holly, and her predecessor Cocoa, we desensitised them by playing recordings of fireworks very quietly while playing with them and giving them treats. Over time we increased the volume of the recordings and they became accustomed to it. It seemed to do the trick.
Re: Extreme anxiety attack I would ask your vet. Tell them what she was like. My friends dog was like that and the vet gave them something to keep her calm. My cousin has to be very careful with her dog and any bangs now. A couple of years ago at least two weeks after bonfire night she left him in his pen outside. She was back by about 7.30 but a big firework display was happening not far away. I'd never heard fireworks so loud. Harry managed to escape we never found out how. She rang me incase I had him. We spent two hours searching the fields, barns etc but couldn't find him. He returned home at 1.30 am. Clean but smelling of soil so we guess he got in a fox hole but we imagined all sorts and he is now scared of any bangs. He actually got out of his pen a few days ago because of gunshot but luckily came looking for me. He is no longer left in his pen after dark. :'( I hope your vet cn give you something it's horrible to see them so scared. :'(
Re: Extreme anxiety attack A severe reaction like that might warrant something a bit more than adaptil or rescue remedy but they might still be worthy a try anyway, or perhaps a thunder shirt? I've had a couple of dogs in the kennels prescribed a dose of diazepam on bonfire night because their reactions were really bad to fireworks. Even if you only get it for this year it will give you chance to work on desensitisation for next year.
