12 minute read
NOISE AVERSION FOR FIDO
Tail waggin’ celebration
It is important to remember the needs of pets when planning a Fourth of July celebration as many have issues with noise aversion and fireworks can be frightening. KJ is a patriotic pup available for adoption at the Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary.
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But, what about a pup’s noise aversion?
The Fourth of July is an incredible time for celebration—one the whole family can enjoy.
But, one member of the family may have a different point of view.
An Australian Shepard living on a small farm in rural Missouri gets used to her surroundings, her people and her routine, but what happens when something unfamiliar makes her uneasy.
According to Brent Herrin, owner and veterinarian at Herrin Animal Hospital in Cassville, stated that a pet suffering from noise aversion or noise phobia amid the time of booming celebrations on the Fourth of July is not uncommon, and Izzy, a friendly farm dog has the story.
“Today was a good day,” she thinks. “I helped daddy get the cows in and momma gave me a good snack when we came in for lunch.
“Then, I got a second snack when baby girl dropped her lunch on the floor. I don’t know why we don’t all eat off the floor, maybe momma likes giving her hands a bath every night—I certainly wouldn’t like that!”
Izzy roamed around the property that evening enjoying the peaceful summer breeze until she notices a flash of light in the distance.
“Momma!” she barks as she runs back to the house. “I’m scared, I don’t like those big booms that shake the whole house. But, I have to protect momma, daddy and baby girl!”
Izzy whines and paces the floor as the storm rolls in, her fur standing up on her back as she circles back to momma trying to get up on her lap.
“If she would just move that arm I could squuueeeezzzeeee right up there,” Izzy thinks as she digs her nose under momma’s arm.
“Izzy, sweet girl, has the thunder ever gotten you before?” momma asks. “Hon, I think we should think about taking her to the vet about this. She is two years old, and she hasn’t gotten over this fear of storms yet, I will make an appointment in the morning. With the Fourth of July party coming up, I want to make sure we are doing everything she needs us to.”
The next morning momma gets on the phone and Izzy hears her say, ‘Be there in 30 minutes Doc., thanks.’ Then, she looks at me with that smile that means one of three things, treat, belly rub or ride!
“I don’t smell a treat,” Izzy thinks. “‘Want to go on a ride?’ Oh yes! Yes yes yes yes yes. How did she know? She deserves a lick!”
Momma grabs the keys and leash and leans down to give Izzy a nice big belly rub.
“Belly rub and a ride—this is the best day ever!” Izzy barks.
When the car stops, Izzy barks again as momma lets her out.
“I remember this place!” she said. “The day before they brought home baby girl from the grocery store, I stayed the night. Momma and daddy have never gotten anything like her from the grocery store before, just some yummy meats, but baby girl is better, she always shares her food and smells funny. She is a lot of fun.” Dawn is a pup at the Haven of the Ozarks Animal Sanctuary that can be a bit fearful of loud noises, but she is available for adoption and looking for the perfect family fit.
Momma and Izzy go inside and are greeted by the nice receptionist at Herrin Animal Hospital.
“Hi, Izzy! Oh you are just such a good girl, do you want a treat?” the receptionist says. “Doc will be with you in just a moment, you guys can have a seat if you’d like.”
I did want a treat! It smells like friends in here. Doc comes out and gets real low to the floor to give me a nice scratch behind the ear.
“Come on girl, this way,” he leads momma and me to a room. “It is good to see you again, what seems to be the issue today?”
Momma tells Doc about that storm last night.
“She gets very clingy and paces around while whinning,” momma said. “She has to be right up on my lap, and with the Fourth of July coming next weekend I wonder if that will affect her too.”
Doc tells momma that it is very common for dogs to be like me.
–Izzy, a friendly farm dog
“About 25-30 percent of our clients that have some type of noise aversion, whether it be fireworks or thunder,” Doc said. “Some dogs can even learn to anticipate a storm coming in!
“One interesting thing is that just because Izzy is afraid of thunder, does’t mean she will be afraid of fireworks; has she been around them before?”
Momma said this is the first Fourth of July party they have thrown so she doesn’t know how I will react.
“Well, how you described her acting last night is fairly common behavior,” Doc said. “But, noise aversion behaviors could include shaking, hiding, panting, attention seeking behavior, being whinny, hyper vigilant and pacing. Additionally, some behaviors are very subtle, like a yawn or licking her lips.”
Doc tells momma that the former treatment was a sedative, but with storms as frequent as they are this time of year, that didn’t sound like a good plan.
“You would be sleeping all the time,” Doc said as he scratched behind my ear again. “Now we use a drug called Sileo. It is a gel that is put in the cheek and absorbed; it works almost every time.”
Doc is a good scratcher. He deserves a lick.
“It takes about 20 minutes to create the calming effect,” Doc said. “The drug is most affective when the pet has a safe, calm environment to rest in, like a walk-in closet, something that is interior without windows if possible.”
Doc says by having my space I can even learn to self calm without the medicine eventually.
“I won’t say no to a nice master suite,” Izzy agrees.
Doc says most behavioral issues have potential to be cured, as the pets learn to cope with the problem.
“Do you have another dog?” Doc asks momma. “Because it is common for a dog with noise aversion to teach another dog the same behavior.”
Momma says I am the only dog on the farm, so that isn’t a concern.
“Well, to treat is to stop the fearful response,” Doc said. “If you follow this routine regularly, it is possible she will learn to cope and no longer need the drugs, but she will still need her safe space. And remember, lavishing attention on her seems like the right response, but that can encourage her behavior. You have to teach her a different way to react.”
Momma thanked Doc who gave me one last ear scratch, which I repaid with another lick, then the nice receptionist gave me another treat.
“Good girl,” momma said as we got in the car. “We have a storm coming tonight, so we will get to test out this new treatment.”
When we got home momma put my bed in her walk-in closet with my favorite squeaky and gave me my medicine.
“The rain is coming,” I whined. “But, I was ok, safe and warm in my space.”
Baby girl waddled in and gave me a hug goodnight, and I licked her cheek, it wasn’t as tasty as it usually is with spaghetti sauce on it, but it’s a good cheek.
“We must be having a party today,” Izzy thinks. “Momma is making lots of yummy smells in the kitchen and daddy is putting chairs and tables in the yard that over looks the field.”
Momma called daddy and baby girl in for lunch and told daddy that Doc’s suggestions are working.
“We have had two storms in the last week since Izzy’s appointment and she is much calmer than before,” momma said. “I am not worried about tonight and her reaction to the fireworks.”
After lunch lots of people showed up, all the kids were playing and yelling and that was fun.
Daddy was laughing and talking with lots of other guys around the big outside box that gives us yummy meat, and momma and baby girl were hanging out with other mommas and baby girls.
After dinner, momma gave me my medicine and tucked me into my bed and gave me the best belly rub, so I gave her the best licks and my best tail wag.
After some time I heard big booms and people cheering, but I was not scared, I had my squeaky and my space. n
If you think your furry or feathered friend is the cutest in the area, let us know! We invite you to share a photo of your pet to be featured in Connection’s Cutest Pet contest. Photos should be sent in the original JPG format at the highest resolution possible. Remember to include your pet’s name, city of residence and your contact information. Email your pet’s photo to:
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Patrick
By Christa Stout
Looking out for furry friends on the Fourth
If you are reading this column regularly, you will probably remember that in March I talked about a doggy transport I did to Denver, taking a dog named Sam to meet with his future family who was driving in from north of Salt Lake City, Utah. One is always a little apprehensive making a long distance transport like that, because you haven’t met the adopters in person yet and you just hope that all will work out. Since our initial meeting in Denver, we have been keeping in touch with the family, and the reports and pictures we’ve received from them are nothing short of wonderful. Sam and his canine sibling have bonded, run around, play and have a high old time, and his human teenage brother is so happy he finally has a dog who will sleep with him on his bed. Their other dog wasn’t much on sleeping with someone, but Sam took to sharing a bed immediately! Fate brought us all together, and it couldn’t have worked out any better. I am grateful I could be part of this wonderful rescue. But here we are in July, hopefully, the pandemic has subsided somewhat, but as usual, July brings some other challenges; First of all, the heat. By July, we in Missouri encounter some pretty high temperatures and as you all know, cars will quickly reach an inside temperature that can be deadly to pets, so please share the word and make everyone aware that leaving a pet in a car in the summer is just not good pet parenthood. Even if the pet survives, he may be permanently debilitated with seizures and other issues.
Here are two special pets at Faithful Friends:
I’m Gabe! I’m a big love bug who came to Faithful Friends as a stray. I promise I’m very smart. I’m not a fan of other dogs or cats but I love people and older kids. I’m the definition of a gentle giant. I’m 70 pounds of pure love. I love a good bear hug and lots of pets. My favorite hobbies are playing/exploring outside and being with my people friends. I’d make a great outside dog during the day and a good couch potato when you get home from work. I require a fenced in yard because I like to roam though. I can’t wait to find my forever home.
I’m Rosie! I am very new to shelter life and very shy, but I love to get attention and will purr very loud. I also love my hiding places so I can sleep where it’s quiet. Kids sometimes scare me, so I can’t wait to find someone who likes to live a calm peaceful life like me. I don’t have any claws on my front feet, so I would love to be able to stay inside forever. Please come see me soon!
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DeGraffenreid Brattin, LUTCF
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Also, remember that if a pavement feels hot to your hand, it will be too hot for the dog to walk on. Take him or her for walks on grass or do so early in the morning or in the evening when the temperatures are a little more moderate. And maybe if you normally take him for a run, make it a walk instead, especially if he is close to senior age. Only you, the pet parent, knows what he or she is capable of, so please take care. And then there is one of the favorite holidays of the year — 4th of July! Everyone loves cooking out, gathering with friends and family and putting on or watching a fireworks display. But please remember your pets who are not so enamored of all the noise. To some, this is a frightening time and they would love to have a safe place to be. Remember also that more pets are lost during the time before and shortly after the 4th of July and some, unfortunately never come back home. If you haven’t already done so, a microchip implanted in your pet will most often assure that he is returned to you. Vet offices, shelters, city pounds and rescues usually have microchip readers and as long as the chip is registered to you as their pet parent, he will happily greet you when you are reunited. Please don’t forget to apply flea and tick preventive on your cat or dog. I understand that this year, probably due to the rain we thought would never end, the ticks are especially vicious and plentiful. Take care, stay safe and have a wonderful July!
