New version of Toledo Talk

Got Dogs who fear fireworks?? - If you have dogs who get all shaky and nervous for fireworks, or thunder - try this. Go get some Peppermint oil - I got mine at Bassetts health foods (you need the real stuff, not just peppermint flavoring from the cake section in the grocery store).

Put some on a cotton ball and swab it on the pads of your dogs front paws.

Sounds silly, but it works. It was recommended to me by a pharmacist, and my vet verified that she uses it too.

Since our Fourth of July warriors began their fun last weekend already, Ive made sure I still had a good supply.

Be sure to think about using it if you're leaving your pets alone for an evening. It's sad to come home to a terrified dog...
posted by billy to health at 7:21 A.M. EST     (18 Comments)

Comments ...

Thanks for the tip, Billy. Could've used that over the years with our dog, Lucky. She really shakes when she hears fireworks. So, we pretty much avoided them at home, and didn't go out and leave her alone.

Now, she's deaf, so she's much more calm this time of year.
Mike
posted by miked918 at 07:37 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

Okay – super stupid question. Does that work because they are so busy licking their paws that they don’t pay attention to the noise or what?
posted by Ryan at 07:53 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

thanks for the tip. while not as bad as many dogs, my dog shakes and is uncomfortable. she finds her crate and rides out the "storm" (fireworks or thunderstorms). her crate truly is her sanctuary.

anyhow, i wonder how it works. what does it do for the dog? i thought peppermint oil is generally used as a digestive aid in humans.
posted by wholesaler1972 at 08:24 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

peppermint and lavendar, when inhaled, have calming effects...
posted by MaggieThurber at 08:33 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

well, you don't actually inhale the peppermint and lavendar - but their scents. Even though it should be self-explanatory, I thought I'd better clarify...I could just see the lawsuits now - LOL!
posted by MaggieThurber at 08:34 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

Correcamundo Maggie. It's the scent that is calming to the dogs, not the taste.
posted by billy at 09:24 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

LOL at Maggie's disclaimer.

Luckily, I don't have this problem. The dog is more perplexed than scared when the neighbors shoot off firecrackers. It seems as if he looks to us for an explanation, but unfortunately I don't have one to give!

I wonder, though, if this peppermint oil trick would work for his sports jitters? Yeah, he freaks out a little whenever there's a baseball or football game on TV. (It should be obvious that this stems from a repeated PEOPLE problem, not a dog problem. Someone in the dog's home who shall remain nameless -- but it's not me, I swear! -- goes a little nuts for his sports, and the dog is very sensitive to that.) :(

He's also scared of flying insects, but not crawling ones. Crazy canine!
posted by jmleong at 09:26 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

My dogs are annoyed more than anything else by them. But, we do have a nice view of the Point Place fireworks from my backyard.

But thanks for the tip, I may have to pick some up for some high strung co-workers of mine.
posted by Ryan at 09:47 A.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

Wow.. I might have to give this a try!
My poor dog will dig at the concrete in the basement untill her paws bleed. I am in Point Place also - where the fireworks started 2 weeks ago I think... ;0) I do have some 'dog downers' handy too though.

Thanks for the post.
posted by SJD at 12:43 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

SJD. if your dog's that scared, you might also go out and get a large box and make her a temporary dog house out of it that she can go into and hide.

If you cant get one from a grocery store or an appliance place, you could go to the U-haul on Alexis near telegraph and buy a big box.

Then seal it all up, and cut a hole in the side big enough for him to get into. You could even drape a towel or something over the top so she could still get in and out, but even the hole would be covered a bit.
posted by billy at 01:16 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

Actually I do. I am now the proud daddy of a mixed beagle/jack russel pooch :) Adopted him last week from the Tiffin pound (was scheduled to be put under that day but the vet couldn't make it).

Anyway, on the 3rd day having him someone in the area was letting off fireworks and he freaked. So I will definitely give this a try.

Where around Oregon/Perrysburgh to you recommend getting this stuff?
posted by jshriver at 06:10 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

My dog is also afraid of the noise from the fireworks. I take him into the basement, because it's the quietest place - turn on the radio and keep him preoccupied till it's over. Usually half an hour or less.
posted by katie82640 at 08:44 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

We had a dog that would literally shake so hard the floor would vibrate. The vet told us to use Benadryl capsules at 1 mg per pound of weight. We did and she was fine. Calmed down, slept a little and stopped shaking. Until the next storm....
posted by DoknowDocare at 09:40 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

billy - I should try to see if she would go into a dark box like you suggested. She's a Boston Terrier - so a small box would do.

I did try the peppermint oil tonight. It did help. And a bonus.. the house smells great! ;0) And I could 'sniff' her out where she was hiding.

I have considered shipping her out to my mom in the country fro the week too. But I would miss her.
posted by SJD at 09:52 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

I may try this - but I highly doubt it will stop our dogs from trembling and freaking out over fireworks. Batten the hatches, it's going to be a bumpy week. July 4 is on Wednesday. So I assume, there will be July 4 celebrations & fireworks both this weekend, and next weekend - and all week in between. Don't think one weekend has been designated at the July 4 weekend.
posted by starling02 at 10:38 P.M. EST on Wed Jun 27, 2007     #

peppermint and lavendar, when inhaled, have calming effects...

I experimented with peppermint and lavender in college.... but I didn’t inhale.
posted by Offshore at 07:32 A.M. EST on Thu Jun 28, 2007     #

One long –term solution that night calm matters is to get the pup used to loud bangs.

I used to participate in both retriever trials and schutzhund training (police type training); each of with requires the dogs to not be gun shy.
For gun shy dogs: place an person with a gun about 100 yards away while you train, play or throw a ball to the dog. Have the gun man fire the gun and get closer and closer. The dog will be attentive to you and not distracted by the gunfire. Soon the dog will realize the sound will not hurt him and he may even begin to associate the sound with a pleasurable experience. One possible draw back may be that every time he hears the bang, he may expect to retrieve something :)

Jshriver: Your dog’s breeds are notable in that both are really hunting breeds. The terriers, while not classified as sporting dogs, are actually the only hunting dogs that were allowed to kill their prey. Thus, it may have a very developed prey drive. So, socialize and train him well to make him a happy dog and good canine citizen.

Concerning your post about vets: For Oregon try Boudouris, David W, DVM - Country Squire Animal Hospital - Oregon, OH 3243 Navarre Ave, Oregon, OH
posted by Offshore at 08:07 A.M. EST on Thu Jun 28, 2007     #

Side note: SJD, we have a Boston Terrier, too! :)
posted by jmleong at 10:09 A.M. EST on Thu Jun 28, 2007     #

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