THE festive season usually brings with it loud bangs of Christmas crackers and/or explosive fireworks.
For your animal companions, this is not the most wonderful time of the year and some of them might get scared and confused.
Pet owners would want to ensure their pets stay calm and safe this festive season, and veterinarian nurse, Arona Cremona, gives some advice in achieving this.
‘Herbal medication should be started at least two weeks before the festive season as it needs time to build up in your dog’s system and to start working. It only takes about 30 minutes for prescribed medication to work.
If the dog is already panicking when the meds are given, it won’t have the desired effect,’ she explained.
Arona said the reason we cannot buy calming meds over the counter is because they are very strong.
‘The medication that is strong and will do the job, is scheduled drugs and by law cannot be sold without consultation from a doctor. The doctor will perform an examination to ensure your pet is clinically healthy.
‘Other herbal medications that can be sold over the counter have not gone through the testing as prescribed medication and, for that reason, we cannot guarantee that medication will work for your dog.’
There is not a lot of trust in herbal medication in the veterinary field as it did not go through a testing process that shows they are clinically proven to work.
Herbal treatment does work but there are no studies to prove that and taking those meds might work and also might not.
‘It is very important to remember that prescribed medication is only calming medication and not sleeping medication. When there is a dog panicking and hurting itself, you want something that you know will work.’
If the medication is not prescribed for long-term treatment, you can stop after the worst of the fireworks is over.
‘The firework season in northern KZN is usually limited to celebrating new year, although sometimes the odd firework is let off at other times during the festive season.
