My dog has severe fireworks anxiety. What can I do to help?

Question

My maltese has diabetes. Is there anything you can recommend that I give my dog to help with anxiety? Once the fireworks start, he starts panting and shaking like crazy. I've tried holding him, taking him into the bathroom and turning the fan on, giving him benadryl. Nothing works. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you, Diane. Pet's info: Dog | Maltese | Male | neutered | 12 years and 5 months old | 11 lbs

Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS · Accepted Answer

Fireworks and loud noises can be really scary for dogs. One important thing to do to when your dog acts scared is not to reassure him. We think we are comforting him when we do that, but it's actually reinforcing the behavior and telling him it's ok to be scared. I recommend getting him a thundershirt to wear when there are fireworks or loud noises. These have been reported to help dogs with anxiety. At home, you can put him in a dark quiet room by himself to self-soothe. You can also turn on the TV or music to block out the sound. Finally, you can consider get a pheromone diffuser called DAP that helps dogs with anxiety. If none of these things help, I'd take Scooter into the vet to discuss the use of anti-anxiety medications. I hope this helps Diane!

My dog has severe fireworks anxiety. What can I do to help?

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