ea93105 Posted December 5, 2018 Report Share Posted December 5, 2018 Our dog is frightened by fireworks, do those jackets really make any difference ? He started scratching at the door pretty frantically when they were going off. thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ComputerGuy Posted December 5, 2018 Report Share Posted December 5, 2018 Yes. But there are an infinite variety of ways to make your own using Ace bandages, T-shirts, straps and a towel, etc. for almost no money. It is the feeling of compression, or hugging, that works. Just like Temple Grandin noted for herself and for cows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fordtruckman Posted December 5, 2018 Report Share Posted December 5, 2018 It also works best if they're applied before the the dog freaks out. After not so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wookie Posted December 7, 2018 Report Share Posted December 7, 2018 We used an ace bandage but the thunder jacket was much more convenient. It worked for us even after they started going off. As soon as the jacket was put on and a little bit of loving and they were fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferret Posted December 7, 2018 Report Share Posted December 7, 2018 I had the same experience as Wookie. Zorra would go into a corner of the walk in closet and shake herself sick after we moved inland again. Thunder wasn't a problem because she grew up with it on the coast. The fireworks were a whole new ball game. The thunderjacket was worth it's weight in gold. She was a big girl and it would have taken a LOT of ace bandages to do the trick. My two current dogs were born with the noise and take it in stride... both thunder and fireworks. I consider myself blessed because it is upsetting to watch your dog's fear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nothernewbie Posted December 7, 2018 Report Share Posted December 7, 2018 I have had great success with the Thundershirts. The proof is that the dogs stand still when they see it and wait for it to be put on. I have three dogs all of whom have grown up here and they are all freaked by the cohoetes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tingting Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 Another "paws up" for the Thundershirt, or any of the knockoffs that you can find in the pet shops. Our pooch has problems with a lot of the outside scary noises (she's a street rescue), but she calms down a few minutes after wearing the shirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ibbocat Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 Yes they help ours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted December 19, 2018 Report Share Posted December 19, 2018 My dog doesn't have a problem with the fireworks, but the thunderstorms are another story entirely. She'll actually start panting and trembling about 10 minutes before it starts (I guess they can feel it coming) or come up the outside staircase (which she hates and normally avoids, as it's metal slats) to my bedroom, then I know we're about to have a big one. It has seemed to get worse as she's aged- it never bothered her as a puppy. I haven't tried a thundershirt, but I tried a tight stretchy t-shirt of mine (she's a big dog and I'm a small woman) and it didn't seem to help, but I'm going to make an actual thundershirt, as I'm a seamstress, and see if it works. I've read it works for about 80% of dogs, doesn't help at all for the others. Would be interesting from a dog psychology point of view to know why. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnMama Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 They do work for many dogs. I tried a kid's t-shirt for my Corgi and he said 'Corgis don't wear clothes' - removed the shirt and hid it where I never have found it. I'd try one of the low cost alternatives first to see if it helps him. My Corgi preferred cuddles. The first few thunderstorms of the year, we'd lie on the bed and cuddle until the storm was over. Then he was fine for the rest of rainy season. I'd just rub his back for a few minutes when the fireworks started and he'd calm down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 20, 2018 Report Share Posted December 20, 2018 Has anyone seen the movie on the life of Dr. Temple Grandin, She is autistic and an expert on animal behavior especially cattle. I believe she somehow was involved in the jackets or at least studied them. It seems that the pressure on the body calms down animals or some animals. Her own experience with autism lead her to discover solutions for anxiety in animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted December 21, 2018 Report Share Posted December 21, 2018 On 12/19/2018 at 6:53 PM, MtnMama said: They do work for many dogs. I tried a kid's t-shirt for my Corgi and he said 'Corgis don't wear clothes' - removed the shirt and hid it where I never have found it. I'd try one of the low cost alternatives first to see if it helps him. My Corgi preferred cuddles. The first few thunderstorms of the year, we'd lie on the bed and cuddle until the storm was over. Then he was fine for the rest of rainy season. I'd just rub his back for a few minutes when the fireworks started and he'd calm down. . The body pressure would feel like being in the womb again, it seems to me. A safe place to be. I also got the impression when I put the tight tee shirt on my 75 pound Jindo that she thought clothes were a ridiculous concept for dogs altho she didn't try to get it off, it just didn't help. I sure wish cuddles did it for her. She tries to get in bed with me when it's storming out, something she's never had interest in, and which I've never encouraged as I don't abide with dogs on the furniture. But I'd be happy to cuddle with her in bed when she's that anxious. Only she won't lay still- she keeps pacing around on the bed, if I can get her to lie down, it's only for a minute, then she starts moving around again. Needless to say, this is not a pleasant situation with a 75 pound dog and sort of pointless, since being in bed with me doesn't seem to calm her down at all, so not sure why she wants to get up there. She even keeps pawing at me, like she thinks I can do something to make the thunder and lightening stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camillenparadise Posted December 21, 2018 Report Share Posted December 21, 2018 Ohhh I wish I had a solution for you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted December 21, 2018 Report Share Posted December 21, 2018 Oh, and I neglected to mention her panicked panting, her hot dog breath in my face, and the uncontrollable trembling. Not only can't she sleep on a stormy night, she makes it impossible for me to, as well. Thank God rainy season's over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xena Posted December 21, 2018 Report Share Posted December 21, 2018 You have my sympathy, Mudgirl. My previous dog was exactly like yours. Nothing comforted her. Nothing. It was painful for both of us. When she died of old age I adopted a former street dog who was and remains oblivious to storms and cohetes. Fireworks make her uneasy but she can be comforted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnMama Posted December 21, 2018 Report Share Posted December 21, 2018 Mud girl - Have you tried Rescue Remedy? I haven't tried it for thunderstorms, but it works well for other kinds of stress such as car rides. Maybe worth trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted December 21, 2018 Report Share Posted December 21, 2018 12 minutes ago, MtnMama said: Mud girl - Have you tried Rescue Remedy? I haven't tried it for thunderstorms, but it works well for other kinds of stress such as car rides. Maybe worth trying. Yes, I have and do give it to her and it seems to help somewhat. At least she'll lie down on her mat next to my bed for brief periods. But she keeps panting and trembling and doesn't really fall asleep. I feel so sorry for her- it's so primal- I know it's just a storm that's going to pass, but I get the impression that for a dog, they think it's the end of the world. Re the Rescue Remedy- I just put a few drops under her tongue, but I read you're supposed to put it in their water to dilute it, because of the alcohol content. How do you administer it? Because she won't drink water at all when she's that anxious and despite all the panting. I figured a few drops of alcohol wouldn't really be an issue for a 75 pound dog as far as damaging their liver or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted December 21, 2018 Report Share Posted December 21, 2018 7 hours ago, Xena said: You have my sympathy, Mudgirl. My previous dog was exactly like yours. Nothing comforted her. Nothing. It was painful for both of us. When she died of old age I adopted a former street dog who was and remains oblivious to storms and cohetes. Fireworks make her uneasy but she can be comforted. Thank you, Xena. It's comforting to know my dog isn't a total aberration in the intensity of her distress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmh Posted December 22, 2018 Report Share Posted December 22, 2018 I had a dog just like yours as well. She was a street dog and pretty brave as a rule but thunder and cohetes would have her totally trembling , panting not knowing where to go.. same thing. She never got over it either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MtnMama Posted December 23, 2018 Report Share Posted December 23, 2018 On 12/21/2018 at 4:55 PM, mudgirl said: Re the Rescue Remedy- I just put a few drops under her tongue, but I read you're supposed to put it in their water to dilute it, because of the alcohol content. How do you administer it? Because she won't drink water at all when she's that anxious and despite all the panting. I figured a few drops of alcohol wouldn't really be an issue for a 75 pound dog as far as damaging their liver or anything. I get the Rescue Remedy for pets and put a few drops on the tongue. Under might be better but this is a cat we're talking about. I don't worry about a bit of alcohol. It's not like I am giving the whole bottle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canada-Mike Posted December 25, 2018 Report Share Posted December 25, 2018 I use Calmante. My girl is big so I give her two, and it seems to help a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camillenparadise Posted December 25, 2018 Report Share Posted December 25, 2018 Hey, whatever it takes! May take several trials, but whatever else are you going to do for your best friends????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudgirl Posted December 26, 2018 Report Share Posted December 26, 2018 On 12/23/2018 at 12:43 AM, MtnMama said: I get the Rescue Remedy for pets and put a few drops on the tongue. Under might be better but this is a cat we're talking about. I don't worry about a bit of alcohol. It's not like I am giving the whole bottle. Thanks, Mtn Mama. I'll keep giving it to her as a have been, then. I didn't get the one specifically for pets. I wonder what the difference is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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