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Anxiety, Fears & Phobias in Dogs & Cats

29 10:26:50

It is the Season again for many Dogs & Cats to freak out with fear when sudden bangs and loud noises are heard from the rumbles and booms of fireworks, often elicit mild to severe anxiety, causing signs such as drooling, pacing, panting and hiding. In addition some will be very restless or quite the opposite, very flat both mentally and physically; they may be whining or growling; they may have dilated pupils or a glazed expression; they may hold their ears flat back or be drooling excessively; they may even be destructive, aggressive, barking endlessly – the list goes on and on.

Any of these types of behaviour might indicate that your dog is developing a phobia towards noise in general. Therefore beware that your dog may begin to exhibit similar behaviour to other noises whether or not they are sudden or loud. A dogs hearing is far more sensitive than a humans, both in range and volume. Research indicates that loud noise may cause actual pain to the animals ears.

Provide a safe haven, a den, for example a covered cage, a cupboard or cardboard box, site it somewhere dark and secure, but make sure the dog is used to the space well in advance - let the dog help you decide where this might be. Some dogs will try to hide in the most unusual places- open cupboards, even under the bath- if this keeps them feeling secure. Close curtains and blinds as soon as it falls dark to keep out light flashes and muffle noises. Divert his attention by playing with a favourite toy or providing him with a new treat or chew. Avoid leaving your dog alone if possible . Remember a frightened dog is not rational.

For some dogs, car rides produce a great deal of anxiety. A combination of fear and not understanding what is happening will cause drooling, shaking, or even vomiting in some dogs and cats. In humans, we refer to this as car sickness or motion sickness; however, true motion sickness is a result of an inner ear problem. Some dogs truly do have motion sickness, and for these animals they need to be treated under the supervision of a veterinarian. For most dogs, however, the sickness is strictly an over-reaction to the fear and apprehension of the car noise, motion, etc. You can get your pet used to the car environment first, then when car is running and then try short trips around the block. Some animals still need something to calm them.

An internet veterinary pharmacy such as www.vetpharmacy.co.uk has a large supply of Solutions such as Pheromones and Calmers. You can purchase Pheromones such as the DAP diffuser (plug-in), DAP Spray, DAP Collar for Dogs and the Feliway Diffuser (Plug-in) and Feliway Spray for cats. There are also many Calmers available such as Scullcap & Valerian, Zylkene, Vetzyme Stress Powder, Anxiety and Calm-Eze. These are all available for immediate dispatch on the DHL next working day service, meaning you can comfort your animal sooner rather than later. As an online Pharmacy there is a team of dedicated and experienced staff who are available for further information on all of the above products.

Conclusion:
Anxiety, Fear and Phobias can become very unsettling for your pet and so the obvious assumption is that you will try anything to help your pet through the experience with the minimum of stress.
Firework parties occur mainly in the month of November so if your pet is badly affected by them it will be an on-going concern for you but, if at all possible, plan ahead to help your pets cope.