Dawn Randazzo and her dog, CooCoo, a 6-year-old Shih Tzu who is sensitive to sound.
Posted on 07/02/2009 10:50:29 AM PDT by JoeProBono
t’s a doggone shame, but it happens during thunderstorms, when trucks backfire and when kids set off firecrackers.
And Dawn Randazzo anticipates that her dog, Coocoo, will go cuckoo during Saturday’s fireworks extravaganza.
The 6-year-old Shih Tzu is one of the city’s many mutts that are sensitive to loud noises.
“He’s a real scaredy-cat dog and always has been,” says Randazzo, 26, a receptionist at a Staten Island veterinarian’s office. “But it’s gotten worse as he’s gotten older.”
Signs that he’s freaked out by noises are easy to read. The pint-sized pup runs to a corner to hide, then shakes, pants, drools and sometimes wets on the floor.
“If he gets really scared,” she says, “he paws me as if he wants to get under my skin.”
To help ease the symptoms, Randazzo medicates her dog, as advised by her vet.
Noise sensitivity is common in dogs, according to Dr. Joanna Nortmann, a New York City veterinarian. “We can see it in any breed.”
Requests for sedatives for sound-sensitive canines rise in summer, according to ASPCA spokeswoman Gail Buchwald, whose own dog, Josie, takes a prescription drug for the condition.
“She’s gotten worse as she’s gotten older,” says Buchwald. “She’s 10 years old now, with cataracts, a little-old-lady gait and intensified fear of noise. It’s frustrating and heart-wrenching because this creature is clearly suffering.”
To help calm her, Buchwald puts her into her “safe room” — a windowless bathroom — and talks softly to her. “And now,” says Buchwald, “she’s got meds on board.”
To reduce stress, animal organizations recom-mend leaving your dog home and indoors when you go to fireworks displays.
Also be sure to close the windows in your home, then turn on the radio or TV. “The Dog Whisperer” or “Lassie” reruns might be good choices.
Dawn Randazzo and her dog, CooCoo, a 6-year-old Shih Tzu who is sensitive to sound.
dramamine!
Get Labradors. They are used to gunfire.
pingage
Lots of valium.
Give some to the dog also.
Benadryl caplets! 1 per 30 lbs.of dog’s weight. A spoonful of peanut butter helps the medicine go down!
Our male beagle will snooze the whole time; our female beagle will try to crawl up my husband’s nose.
Happy Independence Day, All!!!!!
Buy a Mastiff. You’re welcome.
Shih Tzu - best house dog I’ve ever had. A real companion and a great alarm if someone drives up or steps on the porch.
She was bred, and trained to be a hunting dog, except they found out she is afraid of guns! She is a very skittish dog that also seems to be afraid of the dark, and hates the water! We love her though.
This was not a case of being abused, her old owners were just unable to keep her any longer, and she gets along great with our other dog, so we decided, along with her past owners that we would keep her for them, and we are loving our decision more, every single day. I am wondering how she will do on Saturday (4th of July) though.
No. Old Labs get scared too. Great dogs.
I don’t dink around with herbals or benadryl. We give two of our dogs Acepromazine from the vet.
Our 90 pound pansy who leaps on our laps and claws at you, panting, catatonic behind the eyes, who would leap through a window if you left him alone like that... gets two of them - enough to knock him out for the duration.
our other 80 pound dog who would bark at every single one of them... we give one to.... enough to take the edge off.
our beagle doesn’t really give a rip about the fireworks.
I knock the dogs out as necessary so we have the time and attention to give to our horses. We stand out with them and keep them from getting up a running head of steam.
I really really really hate the forth of July.
I think many if not most dogs as they get older get scared of lighting/thunder, fireworks, and other loud noises.
One tip on sedating dogs with Ace... you can’t wait till the fireworks start. Expect two hours for them to work. And the dog should be ‘out’ before the noise begins. If they are already in a tiz when you give it... they may not settle down even with meds.
My parents used to have two Gordon Setters - gun dogs. The only time they heard gunfire, we didn't find one of them for three days. A spooky dog is a spooky dog.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.