Las Vegas dog owners battling fireworks panic or home-alone meltdowns have a new tool to discuss with their veterinarian. Tessie, an oral tasipimidine solution, became the first FDA approved treatment for both noise aversion and separation anxiety in dogs, reports the American Veterinary Medical Association.

The prescription medication is sponsored by Orion, a company based in Finland, and is available only through a licensed veterinarian. Until now, no drug carried FDA approval for both conditions at once, leaving many owners to rely on off-label human medications, sedatives, or behavior training alone.

The timing matters for Southern Nevada. Fireworks-driven fear is the reason the Animal Foundation took in 93 animals over the July 4 weekend, and the shelter spent late June recruiting emergency fosters to get dogs out of noisy kennels before the holiday.

Behavior problems, including anxiety, are also among the most commonly cited reasons owners give up their dogs. With dog surrenders in Las Vegas at a ten-year high, a treatable medical option for two of the most common canine anxiety triggers could help keep more pets in their homes.

Tessie comes in 15 milliliter bottles containing 0.3 milligrams of tasipimidine per milliliter. The drug, an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, is dosed by body weight at 0.1 milliliters per kilogram.

The FDA advises giving a test dose and observing the dog for two hours to confirm the dosage is appropriate. The agency also recommends avoiding administration with food, and waiting at least an hour between feeding and dosing.

Owners should watch for signs the dose is too high, including drowsiness, uncoordinated movement, or an abnormally slow response when called. A dog showing those signs should not be left alone, and future doses should be reduced under veterinary guidance.

Medication is not a replacement for training, and veterinary behavior experts generally recommend pairing any anxiety drug with a behavior modification plan. Dog owners interested in Tessie should talk with their veterinarian about whether it fits their dog’s age, weight, health history, and specific triggers.

The approval arrives well ahead of the next big test for anxious Las Vegas dogs. New Year’s Eve fireworks are months away, which leaves plenty of time to consult a vet, trial the medication, and build a plan before the sky lights up again.