My dog is terrified of fireworks. Can I give her human Diazepam?

Yes there are some over the counter products you can try such as the thunder shirt or an Adaptil collar or diffuser. However if you want something that will work without fail I would try Alprazolam or Valium but these require a prescription through your vet so schedule an appt soon. I hope everything works out for your pets and happy holidays.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Olive is adorable! There are anti-anxiety medications you can try which your veterinarian can prescribe such as Trazodone. I find this medication very helpful in these cases. Good luck!

Please do not give Jackson any medication that was not prescribed for him, as this can be very dangerous, and a dose that is safe for a person may be toxic for a dog. In addition, some human medications contain additives/components that can be toxic to dogs, so it is best to check with your vet before giving any meds to help make sure they are safe. Acepromazine can be very useful in certain situations, depending on the temperament of the dog, how they react to it, and the situation causing the anxiety. If you are concerned about managing behavioural concerns with Jackson, call the vet who saw him recently and see what they recommend, as they should be able to work on a plan to help Jackson feel better. If you are concerned about issues with fireworks and the like, please visit the following links for more information http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3105. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1657

You can definitely try a Benadryl before the vet visit but if the problem is this pronounced, I would talk to your vet about stronger medication at home. They make several medicines such a trazadone, diazepam, or gabapentin that are now being used prior to anxiety such as vet visits and fireworks that can help. You can also use a white noise machine at home during storms and fireworks as this can help mask the noises to ease her

Valium is a relatively safe drug but if it has not been prescribed to your dog I cannot inform you to give it legally. What I can say is that for an 18 pound dog, you could give 4 or 5 milligrams and still be within the proper dosing range assuming no other drugs or bodily conditions exist that would make it contraindicated. Neither Cushing’s or Diabetes would preclude your dog from receiving, and the trazodone given together with the Valium would produce some additional sedation / anti anxiety effects but not enough to cause problems.

Yes you can give it with the other medications. Personally I’d not give Nico the gabapentin when giving the trazodone just to be extra cautious since you’ll only be giving it one night for the fireworks. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

I'm sorry that Belle is suffering from some anxiety. Unfortunately Benadryl can have the opposite effect on dogs; instead of sedation, it can make them more anxious. In addition, I cannot legally recommend giving her either drug without seeing her in person. Put her in a dark quiet room by herself to self-soothe. You can also turn on the TV or music to block out the sound. One important thing to do to when your dog acts scared is not to reassure her. We think we are comforting her when we do that, but it's actually reinforcing the behavior and telling her it's ok to be scared. Give her vet a call to see if you can get something prescribed to help with her anxiety. Best of luck.