Thunderstorms & Fireworks

[SANDRA CARR]

We have a 9 year old extremely lovable xbred (lab & maybe collie/spaniel).
He rarely barks and is very well behaved. It is very heartbreaking for us
to see him become so distressed when a thunderstorm is looming and he
absolutely goes into "ga-ga land" when a storm is in process. A
firecracker will send him running for miles if he's outside. If he's
inside he can sense fireworks that are set off miles away. Our friendly
vet gave use some tranquillizers to administer 1/2 hour before the storm -
like I know when a thunderstorm is going to strike - now and again when the
dog starts panting and drooling and a storm is ominous then we'll give him
a pill but we really don't like the glazed state it puts the dog in and
only give these pills to him when we know for sure there's a storm.

Enough history...vet wanted to send him to a behaviour clinic ! at this
stage of his life - I don't think so.

I've heard other dogs especially labs are prone to this but I'd like to
know if someone has found a solution to help passify/sooth this guy through
these periods - without partially drugging him - I'd actually prefer a
sleeping pill for him that would let him sleep through it but these pill
(sorry I haven't the name of them with me right now) put him in stupor)

You can email me at SC...@CYCOR.CA or SC...@TRENTU.CA.

Thanks for any advise you can pass along.

[Susan Mudgett aka little gator]

SANDRA CARR (sc...@ivory.trentu.ca) wrote:

: Enough history...vet wanted to send him to a behaviour clinic ! at this

: stage of his life - I don't think so.

Why not? Behavior specialists often work wonders-why deprive him of
relief from his fear just because of his age?