I used to believe prescription medication for dogs during fireworks must be given as a last resort. but that was because I did not have a pet dog who was terrified of fireworks.
I give my weimaraner Remy a prescription anti anxiety medication before fireworks begin every 4th of July and new Year’s Eve. This is no big deal and helps him hunker down in his indoor kennel.
If you think your pet dog may benefit from anxiety medication during fireworks or thunderstorms, I recommend you talk with a veterinarian to go over all your options.
It’s also a good idea to get a second opinion because some anti-anxiety medications for dogs are controversial. We’re lucky to have so lots of options these days, and I will discuss lots of of them in this article.
*Get my ideas on how to help a pet dog who’s afraid of fireworks. Click Here.
Medication for dogs during fireworks
In this post:
What can I give my pet dog for fireworks anxiety?
Benadryl to calm a dog
Prescription pet dog anxiety medications
Tranquilizers or sedatives for pet dog fireworks anxiety
What can I give my pet dog for storm anxiety?
What can I give my pet dog for fireworks anxiety?
If you’re trying to help your dog overcome a fear of fireworks, you’ve probably tried all of these options:
Behavior modification such as counter conditioning or slowly desensitizing the pet dog to loud noises.
Thundershirts
Dog appeasing pheromone diffusers
Natural options such as Rescue Remedy (pictured below) or Canine Calm
All of the above are terrific but I want to focus on medications for dogs during fireworks or thunderstorms when other options are not helping enough.
If you have ever given medication to your fearful dog, please share your experience (good or bad) in the comments if you think it will help others.
Over the counter medications for dogs during fireworks – Benadryl
First, let’s look at over the counter options.
Before she prescribes medications to fearful dogs, Dr. Danel Grimmett, a veterinarian with Sunset Veterinary clinic in Edmond, Okla., encourages pet dog owners to try non-prescription medication such as Benadryl.
Over the counter medications for dogs during fireworks
“Benadryl or Dramamine can gently calm a pet with mild to moderate storm anxiety if the administration is supervised by their family veterinarian,” Grimmett said.
These over the counter medications are typically used to combat automobile anxiety or motion sickness as well, she said.
See my post: Can Benadryl help a pet dog during fireworks?
I have given Benadryl to my pet dog Ace for travel anxiety and to foster dogs for separation anxiety, and I do believe it helped calm them.
I’m not sure that it actually alleviated their anxiety, but it at least made them drowsy and as a result less likely to bark and whine.
Benadryl for dogs dosage
If you decide to give Benadryl or Dramamine to calm your dog, make sure to contact a veterinarian first for the proper dose. Weight is not the only aspect in figuring out the proper dose because dogs process some medications differently than we do.
The general dosage of Benadryl for dogs is 1mg per pound of body weight 2-3 times per day but it’s best to speak with with your vet first.
*Get my ideas on how to help a pet dog who’s afraid of fireworks. Click Here.
Prescription medications for calming a pet dog during fireworks
Is there anxiety medication for dogs during fireworks?
If you are wondering if prescription medications are ideal for your dog, make sure to ask your dog’s vet several questions such as:
What are the side effects of the drug you are recommending?
How far in development do I need to give this to my pet dog in buy for it to be effective? (One hour? several hours?)
Will the drug actually decrease my dog’s concern or will it just leave her immobile (and still afraid)?
How long will it work?
How does the anti anxiety medication work?
What is the cost?
Are there any other options you can suggest?
Grimmett said she does prescribe medications to fearful dogs in certain circumstances if other options have not helped.
“Pets with extreme storm anxiety can hurt themselves, damage their environment and possibly act out toward their owners,” she said.
“If all other options have been exhausted, then I will turn to prescription medications.”
Any of you who have very fearful dogs know what she is talking about. For example, my parents’ golden retriever Elsie would often paw at her kennel to try to escape during fireworks. She injured her paws while doing so.
I have also had foster dogs that succeeded in breaking out of their kennels due to their fears of being alone. one of these dogs then proceeded to begin tearing apart my door while I was at work.
There are lots of different options available as far as prescription medications for calming fearful dogs. Make sure to do your own research and go over all options with your dog’s vet if you decide to go this route.
Two of the medications Grimmett said she will often prescribe for dogs with anxiety around fireworks include Acepromazine and Diazepam.
Acepromazine tranquilizer for dogs afraid of fireworks or thunder
Some prescription medications are classified as tranquilizers.
Acepromazine is a affordable prescription medication classified as a tranquilizer, according to Grimmett. She said it must always be administered under the direct supervision of a veterinarian.
“This drug is very effective and very powerful,” she said. “Therefore in our practice, we insist on the pet being kept inside your home in a temperature-controlled, confined area with constant supervision.”
The drug works by modifying the chemicals in the pet’s brain to change its behavior, according to 1-800-PetMeds®, which sells Acepromazine.
None of the drugs a lot of frequently used in minimizing a dog’s concern of fireworks have actually been proven to work in easing that fear, according to PetMeds. The drugs also have possible side effects such as lethargy and sedation.
For example, the company said Acepromazine could “sensitize your pet dog to sound, potentially making the problem worse.”
This doesn’t indicate dogs must not be given tranquilizers during fireworks or thunder. It just indicates each pet dog owner needs to ask the ideal questions and make the best choice for his own dog.
Diazepam sedative for dogs afraid of fireworks or thunderstorms
Diazepam (Valium) is a sedative and muscle relaxer, according to Grimmett. She said it is an effective and safe sedative in treating a dog’s storm anxiety.
However, it is a managed drug and requires registration with the drug Enforcement administration whenever it is prescribed.
Trazodone for dogs during fireworks
My weimaraner Remy takes a sedative called Trazodone before fireworks begin on the fourth of July and on new Year’s Eve. We have a lot of fireworks in our town on these holidays.
Our vet said to give Remy Trazodone about an hour before the fireworks begin. This has helped Remy hunker down and try to go to sleep in his kennel while the fireworks are going on for several hours.
Trazodone is an anti anxiety medication that is also used for dogs with separation anxiety or travel anxiety.
Sileo for dog’s anxiety around fireworks
Sileo is marketed as an effective drug that helps dogs with noise aversion without the side effect of sedation, according to 1800PetMeds, which sells the product.
You give the pet dog Sileo orally with a syringe and requires a prescription for a vet.
What can I give my pet dog for storm anxiety?
You can use any of the pet dog anxiety medications or products we have pointed out to help your pet dog with storm anxiety just as you would with fireworks anxiety. It is the same concept.
Options include:
Over the counter medication like Benadryl
Prescription pet dog tranquilizers like Acepromazine
Natural calming remedies like Rescue remedy or ADAPTIL
One challenge with thunderstorms (depending on where you live) is that they are a bit a lot more unpredictable compared to fireworks. For example, you might be gone for work and a thunderstorm rolls through late morning while your pet dog is home alone.
For some people, it’s valuable to put a Thundershirt on their pet dog whenever the pet dog is home alone in the summer months. This might help a pet dog with mild storm anxiety.
If you know a storm is likely to roll through, you could also give your pet dog Benadryl or a prescription sedative before the storm begins.
Talk to your dog’s vet about the right anxiety medication option for your dog
The above are just a few of the lots of prescription options available for calming a fearful or anxious dogs.
There are other options for calming a pet dog not even pointed out here, and your dog’s vet will be able to help you sort through all the options for your special dog.
*Get my ideas on how to help a pet dog who’s afraid of fireworks. Click Here.
Have you ever given your pet dog medication for anxiety issues?
In the comments, let us know what worked or didn’t work to calm your pet dog during fireworks.
Related posts:
Does the Thundershirt really work?
What do do if a pet dog is afraid of Thunderstorms?
Does Rescue remedy really work?
Adaptil for dogs afraid of fireworks