Our vet david grant works his animal magic

Q OUR miniature poodle is terrified of fireworks. In the past we have tried making a den, drawing the curtains and not making a fuss but nothing works. With Bonfire Night approaching can you recommend anything?

A YEARS ago I used to prescribe sedatives but recent thinking is that they just sedate the animal without removing the fear, which defeats the object.

There are several alternatives these days. Sound therapies aim to gradually introduce loud noises and over time desensitise the dog. Visit dogstrust. org. uk for more details.

There are two other strategies I would also consider. The first is a thunder shirt, which looks like a vest. Some dog owners swear by these and they are thought to work by exerting pressure when put on, producing a calming effect. Information on these can be found at thundershirt. co. uk.

Another ingenious method of alleviating anxiety in dogs involves the use of a pheromone that is produced by the mother soon after birth to calm her pups. It is available in a synthetic form called Adaptil as a spray, a plug- in diffuser and a collar. Your vet will advise you on which of the above measures to try first.

Finally, make sure your dog is microchipped with up- to- date contact details as many dogs panic and get lost at this time of year.