Dogs are known for their olfactory prowess, but sound also dictates their experience of the world. Dogs hear more than twice as many frequencies as humans, and they can also hear sounds roughly four times further away.
Reacting to every sound would demand too much energy, and so dog brains must determine which sounds are significant and which can be tuned out. So why does my dog have a tendency to be anxious? For some dogs, early life conditioning can make the difference in their sensitivity to sound. Like human infants, puppies undergo critical stages of development when their brains form associations that can influence behavior for the rest of their lives. If, for example, a construction worker was hammering the wall in a neighboring apartment while a puppy was left home alone, that puppy might associate banging with abandonment—without her owner even knowing it had happened.
That association could trigger a fear response in the dog every time she heard a bang. And then after 12 weeks of age [about when most dogs are adopted], they start to develop their fear response. Dogs that have little to no negative associations with loud sounds can still be found cowering during a storm, while others who had a scary early experience can learn, often through counterconditioning and desensitization, to overcome the fright. One explanation for this can be found in temperament.
Unlike personality and mood, which are more fluid emotional states, temperament is a deeper, more hardwired system affected by genetics and early development. For example, studies in humans and animals show that mothers who experience high levels of stress during pregnancy can pass on a propensity for anxiety to their young via the stress hormone cortisol. Providing comfort to your dog when he is scared assures him you are there to help. Just like you would comfort a crying child, so should you comfort a scared dog.
Your reassuring presence combined with slow, calm pets may help your buddy to feel secure. If you know fireworks are on the agenda, distract your dog before they begin by giving him a great treat-filled toy. Or engage him in some good games of tug. Encourage him to chew on a favorite bone or do a few fun trick training sessions. Once the fireworks start, provide him options to chew or lick, like a Kong filled with nummies or even just a bowl of treats and ice cubes.
Some dogs enjoy soothing sounds like the hum of a fan or just the mumbling sound from a TV. You can try playing soft, classical music or even purchase a white noise machine designed for dogs.
Be sure to turn these on before the booms start and keep them on until the noises are all gone. If your dog is overcome with stress and anxiety and you just cannot seem to help him, don't be afraid to seek help from a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist. They may suggest trying a prescription medication to be given before holiday festivities.
You can also try over-the-counter options like Composure Treats or Adaptil. Make sure whatever you try is done so with the help from a professional and alongside a positive reinforcement-based plan that incorporates desensitization and counterconditioning.
The key to helping any dog cope with scary things is to try and understand what they may be experiencing. Dogs experience fear in much the same way we humans do and sometimes they need a little extra support.
Some of these foods include corn cobs, which can cause intestinal blockage, raisins, grapes, onions, chocolate, xylitol, and alcoholic beverages. Aside from the risk of ingesting food, our curious canines are also at risk for ingesting fireworks. Fireworks contain hazardous chemicals such as heavy metals, coloring agents, sulfur, and oxidizing agents such as potassium nitrate.
They can also contain chlorates, which oxidize red blood cells. The rusty blood, called methemoglobinemia, does not carry oxygen, which the body needs to function.
Even if the body works to get rid of the damaged red blood cells, it eventually ends in kidney failure or death. The severity of the case depends on what type of firework was ingested and how much of it was ingested. First and foremost, call your veterinarian right away or bring them into our Castle Rock emergency and specialty veterinary hospital.
Ingesting fireworks is serious. Again, it depends on the number of fireworks ingested and the type of firework ingested. If your pet has ingested a lit firework, it can cause burns to the face, lips, nose, eyes, or the insides of the mouth.
If the amount of fireworks materials that your dog ingested is significant, or if they are burned on their face, they will need to be hospitalized and treated with IV fluids and medication.
Why Are Dogs Scared of Fireworks? Preventing Related Injuries.
0コメント