Jem’s fear of fireworks

08/11/2008 by Arielle.

Jem is a gorgeous Blue Merle Border Collie. She was a rescue dog and being a typical intelligent Border Collie, she has a slightly nervous disposition.

Her owner knows of her fear of fireworks and managed to get very organised for this season (with bonfire night on a Wednesday this year, we seem to have more fireworks then ever) and she purchased a ‘Sounds Scary’ cd months ago. Jem was made to listen to fireworks on the cd to completely desensitise her. Her owner  said it worked so well and eventually Jem was just sleeping peacefully through the cd.

Jem came in today as she had signs of a bladder infection or cystitis. She was too scared to go out and wee in the garden last thing at night as she usually did and was not going at all. This led to the urine sitting in her bladder for far longer than normal and the bacteria then multiplying happily.

I tried very hard to collect a urine sample from Jem. I took her for a walk round the back where so many dogs wee but being a typical Collie, she just wanted to look for her owner  and did not sniff the ground at all. We knew she had not emptied her bladder since 3 that morning. We did have some success just as they were leaving - she weed by the reception desk and I was finally able to test her urine.

Jem did have to be treated for a cystitis, but the cause was fireworks!

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