From Boo

So today let’s talk about my brudder Sherlock. Mommy O says Sherlock is a case. I don’t know what he’s a case of, but he’s a case. And he is fraid of the BOOMflashWET that has been happening recently. I think I might be fraid of the BOOMflashWET too – but anytime it happens, I look at my other brudders and sisser, and they aren’t fraid of it, so I settle back down and be brave instead of fraid.

But Sherlock can’t be brave. Not until Mommy O or Daddy O gives him Special Treat. Sometimes they give the rest of us treats when they give him Special Treat, but it is just a regular treat so we won’t be jealous. After Sherlock gets Special Treat, he is much less fraid of the BOOMflashWETs. Sometimes he’s so not fraid that he falls asleep. But usually he just chills out and acts like the rest of us.

Mommy O says that pretty soon, there are going to be lots of BOOMflashes without the wets. Something about being in-the-pennants. I’m not sure what pennants have to do with BOOMflashes, but she keeps telling Daddy O and the skin-puppy that she’s worried about other people who have dogs like Sherlock who are afraid of the BOOMflashes, cuz they haven’t started to come to where she works to get Special Treats for their dogs for in-the-pennants day. She says that the time to get Special Treats is now, not the day before in-the-pennants day, because if they wait, they may not be able to get what they need.

And now from Dr. O
I recently saw a meme that said “If your dog is afraid of Fireworks, today is the day to call your veterinarian. Not July 3rd.”

Yes, one of my dogs is very thunderstorm phobic. And yes, he gets anti-anxiety medication to help him have a better quality of life. That makes it easy for us, because when the fireworks start, we already have what we need if any of our dogs get frightened. Our local fireworks display is only about 1 mile from my house, so we can see most of it, and definitely hear all the big booms. Sherlock gets meds every night for a few days both before, during, and after the fourth of July, because we also get a lot of “bonus” displays of fireworks.

I know it’s only June – but seriously, now is the time to set up a consult if your dogs are going to need anti-anxiety medications. There are several options available, and although they may help your dog relax enough to fall asleep, they are not “just” sedation. They truly do work on neurotransmitters to help reduce fear and anxiety. It’s just a thought.

– Dr. O