diazepam v's xanex

[duke]

hi all

Duke was prescribed diazepam by the vets recently due to fireworks.  Poor soul was terrified and I did think on several nights he was going to have a heart attack.  He settled  a bit eventually after 25mg of diazepam but was still stressed.  I did try Calmex first but that did nothing other than upset his stomach and make his behaviour somewhat odd to be honest.  I have been advised that Xanex may be better for him as over time this should desensitise him to the sounds.  Does anyone have any thoughts on this ?  I have ordered him a thundershirt but am still awaiting delivery.  I would prefer not to use drugs to keep him calm but I really do worry for his heart he gets so stressed.  I have tried to keep him in one room with me and spent two nights sleeping on the floor with him to try and settle him round bonfire night , but that cannot continue and I know we will start getting Xmas /new years fireworks soon. He sleeps like a good en normally and has settled back into his normal routine again for now.......

Cheers all

[lurchernut]

My Kobi was so terrified of fireworks in the past that there was a danger of losing him. After having Xanax for a few years he is brilliant now. In the run up to bonfire night whe there is the odd firework going off he will just raise his head nowadays and listen for a few seconds and then go back to sleep and on bonfire night when they are continuous he gets up on the settee and cuddles into me now for the duration. He has never been a cuddler, and doesn't normally do this.
The fireworks at New Year don't bother him now either or thunderstorms.
The huge benefit from Xanax is this lessening of fear after each time it is given, it calms them down without making them sleepy or drowsy and as they realise that the bangs weren't that scary this time, they just relax quicker each time thereafter.

Kobi would literally try to dig through the floors, he couldn't control his breathing and he just had saliva dripping from his mouth. He used to be truly terrified. Now, as I said, he gets up for a cuddle, lies alongside me, and just has the odd tremble when one of the explosive type fireworks go off.

So, even though I hate having to resort to medication, Xanax gets my vote. Kobi only needs 2 tablets now on the actual night and the maximum dose allowed is 5 tablets, so it really does make a huge difference

[vickyb]

Xanax gets my vote too. It has helped Maddie a lot and we always have some in for unexpected bangs all year round. I'll second the above post. Maddie gets up the next day all bright and happy and with the previous night forgotten when she has them. Her dose is 1-6 tablets and if one isn't enough we can just give her another and another as she seems to need it but obviously over time we know how many she is likely to need in various circumstances.

Calmex and Kalm aid sent Maddie really weird and hyper, the vet said that although they sell them he isn't a fan and knows several dogs that also react very strangely to them. Nothing herbal/homeopathic/supplement/food touches her

[ailsa]

The way Xanax works is to block the emotion that's associated with the memory. So Duke will recall hearing the fireworks, but he won't remember how they made him feel. Diazepam only works to block the fear after it is taken, so the dog will still remember being frightened by the fireworks. This is why I believe Xanax to be the better option. It certainly helped Archie with his anxieties.

[duke]

Thank you so much all of you really are fonts of knowledge. Much appreciated xx