NO FEAR THIS FIREWORKS SEASON

RESCUE REMEDY FOR ANXIOUS PETS

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR FROM THUNDERDOGS MALAYSIA...

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FIREWORKS MAKING YOUR DOG(S) ANXIOUS?

It is the season for fireworks again. And while we humans enjoy fireworks, our four legged companions often do not. 

Here are some tips to help keep your dog safe:

• Put a Thundershirt on your dog at least half an hour before the fireworks are due to start. 
• Make a safe den for your dog to retreat to if he or she feels scared. Alternatively, let your dog take refuge under furniture and include an old, unwashed piece of clothing like a woolly jumper so that your dog can smell your scent and feel comfortable.
• Distract your dog from the noise by having the TV or the radio switched on.
• Try to act and behave as normal, as your dog will pick up on any odd behaviour. Remain calm, happy and cheerful as this will send positive signals to your dog. Reward calm behaviour with doggie treats or playing with toys of interest.
• Check where and when displays are being held in your local area.  Also ask your neighbours to let you know if they are planning anything.
• Consult your vet if your dog has any health problems or is taking any medication before giving remedies to help him cope with fireworks night, and always follow the manufacturers' instructions.
• Feed your dog a while before you expect any disturbances, as once the fireworks start your dog may be too anxious to eat.
• Walk your dog before dusk.  It may be some time before it's safe to venture outside again for your dog to relieve himself.
• Make sure you shut all doors and windows in your home and don't forget to draw the curtains. This will block out any scary flashes of light and reduce the noise level of fireworks. Don't forget to block off cat flaps to stop dogs (and cats) escaping.
• Shut your dog safely inside a room before opening the front door.
• Your dog might choose to hide under the bed. If he or she comes to you for comfort, make sure that you give it to him/her. Ignoring your dog would only make things worse as he or she wouldn't understand your withdrawal from them.
• Keep a collar and ID tag on your dog. 

And DO NOT:

• Take your dog to a firework display, even if your dog does not bark or whimper, don't assume he or she is happy. Excessive yawning and panting can indicate that your dog is stressed.
• Tie your dog up outside while fireworks are being let off. 
• Assume your garden is escape proof.  If your dog needs to go out keep him on a lead just in case.
• Leave your dog on his own or in a separate room from you.
• Try to force your dog to face his fears - he'll just become more frightened.
• Forget to top up the water bowl.  Anxious dogs pant more and get thirsty.
• Change routines more than necessary, as this can be stressful for some dogs.
• Try and tempt him out if he does retreat, as this may cause more stress.
• Tell your dog off! This will only make your pet more distressed.

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HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYDOG...

 It's New Year's Eve... We would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy New Year. While tonight will most likely be a fun-filled night for us humans, just take a minute to remember that fireworks and loud parties may not be that much fun for your furry friends.

 Please ensure that they are safe tonight by putting them in the thundershirts a couple of hours before the fireworks start.

 Ideally take them for a long walk and ensure that they have had their meals early. We highly recommend that you bring your furry companions indoors and keep them in a safe and quiet room. Turn on some music or the TV to drown out the sounds of the fireworks.

 If you are unable to bring them indoors, ensure that they are securely leashed or crated. While there are many people that are anti-leashing or crating/caging, please note that during festivities, this is the best option to ensure that your pets are safe. There have been too many cases of pets going missing because they escaped from their homes due to the fireworks.

Additionally, please make sure that your pets have their collars and id tags on.

Happy New Year Everdog! Have a great year ahead and stay safe!!! 

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Cesar Milan's Tips on Dealing with Fireworks

Dealing With Fireworks Anxiety

We are now half way through the month of Ramadhan, and most of us dog owners have already had to deal with our dogs' fear of fireworks in the evenings. With the Hari Raya celebrations fast approaching, we can be assured that the amount of fireworks that will be set off will only increase, and therefore potentially causing our dogs to experience high levels of stress and anxiety.

We would like to share with you an excerpt from Victoria Stillwell on how to deal with Fireweoks Anxiety.

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Dealing With Fireworks Anxiety
By Victoria Stilwell

A lot of your dog’s misery can be avoided (or at least reduced) if you think ahead and begin the desensitization process with her well ahead of the big day. There are several steps you should take if you think your dog will have a bad reaction to the booms, whistles and pops that are the soundtrack to what the rest of us all consider a fun night.

Working with dogs that have a fear or phobia can be complex because even though some common fears can be successfully worked with, others are deeply ingrained and are therefore highly resistant to change. Recent reports have shown that 93% of dogs with noise phobias involved fear of thunder and other loud noises, including fireworks.Whether fear of fireworks is elicited by a singular traumatic experience or prolonged exposure, the result is often highly distressing for dogs and owners. Without extensive behavioural therapy and management strategies, phobias become deeply ingrained and even harder to change.

Unfortunately even one noisy celebration can turn a dog into a quivering wreck. Some dogs are so badly affected that they have an inability to function during and after a fireworks show. Many fireworks-phobic dogs adopt self-management strategies in order to cope. These strategies include attempting to escape the home, digging into carpets, seeking out dark den-like spaces to hide in, or crawling behind a bathroom sink or toilet. Others will pace back and forth during the episode, unable to focus on owners who are desperately attempting to calm them down. Stress is also manifested through excessive panting, pupil dilation, sweating paws, raised heartbeat, loss of appetite, whimpering, trembling and an inability to settle.

One thing that can sometimes make behavioral modification in fireworks cases a bit easier than with thunderstorms is that thunderstorms are not easy to predict or control. A dog usually knows that a storm is coming long before an owner and becomes increasingly panicked as the storm approaches. Regardless, as with all training techniques, I have learned that treating every dog as an individual is of utmost importance and that modification and management is more likely to succeed if time is spent tailoring the training to each specific dog.

Conditioning a dog to feel differently about the sound of fireworks can be achieved by gradually exposing the dog to audio recordings of fireworks at low volume levels and, if the dog appears relaxed, playing his favorite game or feeding him his favorite food. Allowing the dog to play and relax in the presence of the soft noise for a period of ten minutes, taking a break of five minutes and repeating the exercise ensures that the dog doesn’t become bored with the training. Introducing the audio at a low level again and slowly turning up the volume if the dog continues to be relaxed and able to concentrate on playing the game or eating the food allows the dog to habituate to the noise without a fear response. If the dog shows signs of stress, going back to the previous level and building up the noise level again will take pressure off the dog. The object of noise desensitization is to gradually expose the dog to louder and louder sounds over a period of time, progress being determined by the dog’s reactions. Going too fast might make the dog even more frightened, so taking things slowly will ensure maximum benefit from the process.

Gradually exposing the dog to flashes of light that grow in intensity can be another part of therapy, but one that can be harder to implement. I have found that these therapies are often not as effective as noise desensitization. Some dogs will respond well to all of the above therapies, but will become panicked when the real fireworks start. It is therefore important to tackle this phobia in other ways by using effective management strategies and by masking any audio and visual stimuli that elicit a fear response during an episode.

The most important thing an owner can do for their fireworks-phobic dog is to provide them with a bolt hole – a place where the dog can escape to when the festivities begin. Providing the dog access to this safe place is essential at all times, particularly during an owner’s absence. This might be a closet, bathroom or a basement, the best places usually being the ones that have no windows, but with plenty of artificial light (to mask flashes of fireworks). Music can be played close to the safe haven so that sounds can be masked. It is also essential that if an owner is present, time be spent with the dog in the safe haven or attention given to the dog if it comes to seek comfort from its owner. Far from reinforcing fearful behavior, an owner’s comforting arm and presence can help a phobic dog to cope as long as the owner remains calm at all times.

Some phobic dogs benefit from calming therapies such as T-touch, Thundershirts, and Bach Flower Essences, while others do much better on anti-anxiety medication that can be given just before the fireworks start. It is vital, however, that behavioral therapy and management are always given along with any medications in order to give the dog the best possible chance of rehabilitation.

I’m very excited about some pretty groundbreaking work that I’ve been doing lately on a project to help dogs with phobias like these, and I hope to be able to announce something about that soon. In the meantime, fireworks phobia can be a tough condition to treat, but trying a variety of therapies and techniques can improve a dog’s ability to cope when the big ones come.

RAMADHAN & FIREWORKS

The Muslim fasting month begins tomorrow, and Thunderdogs Malaysia would like to take this opportunity to wish all our Muslim friends "Selamat Berpuasa".

At the same time, we would also like to gently remind everyone to keep their pets safe over the next couple of months. As we all know, we Malaysians love our fireworks and fireworks feature prominently in recent times in almost all celebrations.

Previously, fireworks were only set off during the Hari Raya celebrations. But this year, in some areas, the fireworks have already started even before the start of the fasting month.

Our pets, dogs, cats and other small animals, unfortunately do not appreciate fireworks and some get extremely frightened, confused and disoriented.

Keeping cats and dogs secure

• Make sure your dog or cat always has somewhere to hide if he or she wants to and has access to this place at all times. For example this could be under some furniture or in a cupboard.
• During firework seasons, walk dogs during daylight hours and keep cats and dogs indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off.
• At nightfall close windows and curtains and put on music to mask and muffle the sound of fireworks.
• If your pet shows any signs of fear try to ignore their behaviour. Leave them alone unless they are likely to harm themselves.
• Never punish or fuss over your pet when it's scared as this will only make things worse in the long run.
• Make sure your cat or dog is always kept in a safe and secure environment and can’t escape if there’s a sudden noise. Have your pet microchip-ed in case they do escape. This can help you identify your pet should someone find him/her.
• Consider getting a Thundershirt to help ease your pet's fears.

Just for dogs – before the firework season starts

Planning ahead can help your dog cope with the firework season.

Before the firework season starts provide your dog with a doggy safe haven, this should be a quiet area so choose one of the quietist rooms in your home. It should be a place where the animal feels it is in control, so don't interfere with it when it's in that area.

Train your dog to associate the area with positive experiences eg. by leaving toys there but not imposing yourself at any time. Use a variety of toys and swap them regularly, putting them away when not in use so that your dog doesn't become bored with them.

With time your dog can learn that this place is safe and enjoyable. So when fireworks happen it may choose to go here because it knows that when it is here, no harm will come to it and so it's more able to cope. It is important that your dog has access to its doggy safe haven at all times even when you’re not at home.

If you have a Thundershirt for your dog, put it on your dog before the fireworks start to help keep your dog calm when the fireworks do start.

Just for dogs – when the fireworks start

• Close any windows and black out the ‘doggy play area’ to remove any extra problems caused by flashing lights.
• Each evening before the fireworks begin, move your dog to the play area and provide toys and other things that they enjoy. Make sure that there are things for you to do too so that your dog isn't left alone.
• Ignore the firework noises yourself. Play with a toy to see if your dog wants to join in, but don’t force them to play.
• If you know a dog that isn't scared by noises and which gets on well with your dog, then keeping the two together during the evenings may help your dog to realise that there’s no need to be afraid.

Just for cats

• Make sure your cat has somewhere to hide if it wants to. For example this may be under some furniture or in a quiet corner.
• Don’t try and tempt your cat out as this will cause it to become more stressed.

Don’t forget small animals

• If your pets live outside, partly cover cages, pens and aviaries with blankets so that one area is well sound-proofed. Make sure that your pet is still able to look out.
• Provide lots of extra bedding so your pet has something to burrow in.

DOGS AND FIREWORKS

Is your dog afraid of fireworks? Does the Chinese New Year and Hari Raya celebrations send your dog scared and into hiding?

If your dog exhibits any anxiety from the sounds of fireworks or other similarly loud noises, you need a Thundershirt. The Thundershirt can help treat all symptoms of dog firework anxiety, and no training is required.

To see the effect, just put a Thundershirt on your dog and observe the results. In most dogs, a positive difference is obvious in the very first usage, while others may need two or three usages before displaying a significant change.

Before the anticipated fireworks display,  put the Thundershirt on your dog, i.e. prior to your dog becoming scared and anxious. But, it is fine to put the Thundershirt on AFTER your dog has become anxious, as you will still see good results. In most cases, it is fine to leave a Thundershirt on your dog for extended durations of time.

Dogs and Fireworks FAQ

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Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about using Thundershirt for your dog’s fear of fireworks and other loud noises. If you have any other questions you would like to ask, please refer to our FAQ page or contact Thunderdogs Malaysia

• For what types of symptoms will the Thundershirt work?

  The Thundershirt is effective for a wide variety of anxiety symptoms. For noise anxiety, those symptoms include shaking, panting, drooling, yawning, barking/whining, hyperactivity, eliminating indoors, clawing, digging, hiding, and clinging to owners. The Thundershirt has even cured symptoms as severe as clawing through walls and seizures.
  
  

• Will it work the first time my dog wears the Thundershirt?

  Most dogs show significant improvement within minutes of putting the Thundershirt on for the first time. Some dogs may take two to three usages before they show significant improvement.
  
  

• How tight is “too tight”?

  The Thundershirt should only have comfortable pressure on your dog. How do you judge “comfortable”? You should be able to easily slip you fingers under the Thundershirt. For the neck straps, they should only be gently stretched... no pressure is needed around the front chest area; the benefit from the Thundershirt comes from the pressure around the torso behind the front legs. When securing the torso straps, you should be stretching the fabric, but it does not require any strenuous force.
  
  

• How long can my dog wear Thundershirt?

  The Thundershirt is comfortable and safe to wear for extended periods.
  
  

• Will my dog eventually no longer need Thundershirt for noise anxiety?

  In some cases, yes! The Thundershirt allows many dogs to experience the problem noise(s) in a calmer, less fearful state. Over time, this enables some dogs to learn to be less fearful of the noise(s) even without the Thundershirt. The underlying symptoms diminish, or in some cases are eliminated entirely.
  
  

• Have other questions?

  Please click here to see our full FAQ or contact us.