Dear Trouble: Help! The Fireworks, the damn Fireworks, they just won't stop, how can I keep my dog calm?

Dear: "Help! The Fireworks, the damn Fireworks, they just won't stop, how can I keep my dog calm?":

It's not even July yet, but the fireworks are going off each and every night. Fluffy is besides himself with the shakes and howls, and you want to keep him calm but don't know how. Venting about it on facebook and twitter hasn't worked. What to do, what to do?

First off all, be sure your dog is wearing a tag with your phone number, should the fireworks start earlier than usual and he (god forbid) springs loose on a walk. If he does run away, see my column on what to do if your dog runs away. Also now is a good time to check that his collar/harness are tight and secure and don't have any rips.

Second, create a safe haven for Fluffy in your house, wherever it is the most quiet, such as a bathroom, a room with no windows, the basement, or a large closet. Provide your pup with familiar toys and treats, a comfy dog bed, and one of your unwashed shirts that he'll love smelling for comfort. Use a crate if that’s where your dog feels safe, but don't lock it, he should be free to go in and out as he pleases. A white noise machine or loud fan will help too, and if things get particularly loud, stay in there with him, comforting him and telling him it's going to be alright.

Third, you could try to desensitize Fluffy to the sound, by playing firework videos on youtube, quietly at first, and then a little bit louder bit by bit. Give him treats too while you cuddle up listening to the booming and thundering, you never know, he might get used to it. I heard playing "God Save the Queen" helps sometimes.

Last, if it's really bad and your pup is in severe distress, some vets will prescribe anti-anxiety meds which will see you through for some time. But try to sound proof a room in your apartment, and do your walking before it gets dark and the madness begins.

All the best,

Trouble

PS: When you're alone and as far away from your house and dog as possible, be sure to set off at least one personal firework as a tribute to Vulcan, ancient Roman god of fire, or face his wrath. Good luck!

DISCLAIMER: I am not a real medical professional, I am just a dog with a free advice column.

Dear Trouble: Help! My dog has diarrhea, what should I do?

Dear: "Help! My dog has diarrhea, what should I do?":

So you left out all that banana bread you've been baking to keep busy during the Quarantine, and Fluffy ate it. And now he's got the runs, and it's all over your carpets! What to do!

There's lots of different advice on all the pet sites, but I'll share what has worked best for me, when I have overdone it on the generous leftovers.

White Rice. That's it. For breakfast and dinner for 1-3 days, maybe a splash of chicken broth on top to make it less bland. It works like magic, and better than anything else.

Now, if it's been over 3 days of rice and the condition persists, or Fluffy's very old or has medical conditions - then do call the Vet. If the Vet has you come in, they'll prescribe anti-diarrhea meds and put him on a drip if he's severely dehydrated.

But if not, then you've got this. Don't forget to roll up the carpets and keep the fresh water going.

All the best,

Trouble

DISCLAIMER: I am not a real medical professional, I am just a dog with a free advice column.

Dear Trouble: Help! My dog just bit me, what should I do?

Dear: "Help! My dog just bit me, what should I do?":

So the Quarantine is making everyone a bit stir crazy, and that "Matador" game that started out as "fun" got a bit out of hand. Fluffy bit you, you're bleeding, and now what?

Quick, grab a clean bandage or towel, wrap it around your bite, and apply pressure. If blood soaks the towel and keeps spurting after a few minutes, you're gonna need stitches. Got to the ER asap.*

If there's no gushing and the wound is fairly small and shallow, then don't panic, you can stay home. As long as you clean the wound thoroughly and right away, you will not get an infection. (And you know your dog's been updated on his shots).

Hold your wound under running warm water for at least 5 minutes. Wash it with soap if you can bare it. Better yet, if you have a clean syringe (like one of those you use to give kids liquid medicine), fill it and flush the wound properly several times. Dog mouths are dirty so the most important thing you need to do is flush the wound. Then apply neosporin, a bandage, and you're good to go, no need to panic. (Basia's been bit a bunch of times and she did this and never got infected). Good luck!

All the best,

Trouble

DISCLAIMER: I am not a real medical professional, I am just a dog with a free advice column. But you can look this up on pets.webmd.com and it will tell you the same thing.

*ER: in normal times, the ER will give you pain killers, antibiotics, flush the wound and stitch it up. They might even put you under if it's really bad. During the pandemic, a doctor client told us they are still doing that, while trying to keep normal patients separate from the corona patients.

Help! My dog just ate my drugs, what should I do?

Dear Trouble: Help! My dog just ate my drugs, what should I do?

Dear: "Help! My dog just ate my drugs, what should I do?":So your Crazy Uncle Leo gave you a tray of pot brownies, and the next thing you know, Fluffy inhaled the whole damn lot. Or, your orange medicine bottle full of your Oxy or Xanax or Adderall or whatever fell out of your medicine cabinet, Fluffy thought it was a toy, he chewed it up and swallowed all the pills. What to do?!?!

If you think it's been more than 20 minutes since they ate the bad stuff, rush them to your vet or the dog ER ( Blue Pearl or VERG ) where they will get their stomach pumped, and be monitored and treated.

But if you saw Fluffy gobble up the contraband, you have about twenty minutes to make them vomit before the drugs hit their system. We've done this before, it works, here's how you do it:

Get some regular 3% Hydrogen Peroxide from your medicine cabinet, local deli, or drug store. Get an oral medicine syringe . (At the drug store it's usually in the section where baby bottles and binkies are).

Measure out your dosage of the Hydrogen Peroxide into a cup: 1 tablespoon per 15 lbs of dog. So if your tiny schnoodle is only 15 lbs, use 1 tablespoon. If your cavapoo is 30 lbs, use 2 tablespoons. Got a 45 lb hound mix? Use 3 tablespoons. If your dog is over 45 lbs, don't exceed 3 tablespoons.

Suck up the hydrogen peroxide with the oral syringe, and squirt it deep down Fluffy's throat. (You might need some help with holding him down to open up wide). Make sure it all goes down that gullet. Wait about a minute, and then Poof! They'll puke up a bunch of foam, it will look like shaving cream. Then a minute later, they'll vomit again, and this will be the bad stuff in their tummy.

Now, if you're worried, go to your Vet to get them checked out, just in case. But you'll definitely prevent bigger problems if you make your dog vomit before the drugs really hit their system. Remember, you have 20 minutes. Feel free to call us with any questions!

All the best,

Trouble

DISCLAIMER: I am not a real medical professional, I am just a dog with a free advice column. But you can look this up on PetMD or AKC also and it will tell you the same thing.

Help! My dog just ran away, what should I do?

Dear Trouble: Help! My dog just ran away, what should I do?

Dear: "Help! My dog just ran away, what should I do?":

I presume you already ran after him, called his name, biked all over the neighborhood asking if anyone saw him, but he's gone and you don't know where he went even though you looked everywhere. You're filled with terror and don't know what to do next.

Here's what you should do:

1. Get on-line ASAP. There’s a very good chance someone helpful picked up your dog and took him home, and is now checking to see if anyone is looking for him.

Go on these sites right away:

shadowapp.com

pawboost.com

fidofinder.com

And see if anyone posted about seeing or finding your missing dog. Report your animal as missing on all of these sites. If someone found or even just saw your pup, they’ll reach out to you. You should also keep checking if anyone posted about finding him.

2. Set up Facebook and Instagram pages for your missing dog, and ask everyone to share. Tag your local dog walking companies asking for help (including us of course). We'll help spread the news. #Hashtag with phrases that are followed by many people in your neighborhood, such as #prospectpark #parkslope #dogsofbrooklyn #parkslopeparents etc.

3. Make a Missing Dog Flyer and put it up on street corners. This will take some time, so do the steps above first. Enlist help.

4. If the police or animal control pick up your dog in Brooklyn, they will bring it to the Animal Care Center at 2336 Linden Boulevard. You can call them at (212) 788-4000, but it's most effective to go there in person. That way you can also leave your flyer with them.

5.Call or visit your local dog shelters to see if anyone brought your dog there. If he's chipped they'll scan him but it might take a few days.

Sean Casey Rescue: (718) 436-5163

BARC Shelter: (718) 486-7489

6. Have someone on the lookout near your house, often dogs come back on their own.

Call us for help. Pray to the Dog Gods. Have Faith. Don't give up.

All the best,

Trouble