In New Zealand, a fireworks celebration sparked multiple dog deaths as the poor panicked pooches fled headlong into the night.  A Dalmatian cross dog managed to clear a 6-foot fence and rush out into traffic.  His injuries were too severe to fix, and he died from chest injuries after a local veterinary team worked for over an hour to save his life.

Another dog was found later on the side of a road.  He too had escaped after the fireworks scared him, and he was paralyzed after being hit by a car during his escape.

These sad tales are becoming more common it seems.  To dogs, the loud explosions caused by fireworks can be among the most terrifying sounds they ever hear, causing some to succumb to utter panic and do things you wouldn’t normally expect a dog to do, such as jumping a 6-foot fence.

In this story, the veterinarian suggests going about business as usual and not treating the dogs any differently during a fireworks celebration because it reinforces the nervous reactions.  Doing nothing obviously didn’t help those two dogs, and I think the vet has it wrong in this case.  When a dog jumps up on you each time you pet it, you should stop petting it.  When a dog completely loses its mind to terror, you shouldn’t pretend nothing is wrong.  You wouldn’t ignore your child in such an extreme state of fear.

Perhaps the best solution is to be a comforting presence for your dog, and show them that you will be there to protect them in their time of need.  Sedatives may also be a good idea in the case of severely nervous dogs.  What we shouldn’t do in cases like this is nothing.  It could mean the life of our beloved friend.