Remedies for Thunderphobia/Noise Sensitivity?

[Blossom]

Does anyone have a pet who always gets distressed when there's a heavy rainstorm with thunder/lightning or perhaps simply by outside noises? Any tips/advice? I saw a news segment about this recently, but of course they didn't offer any solutions they just "happy talked" about it.:rolleyes:

Our dog gets stressed out whenever it rains heavy at night and starts barking and often pees. We've had many sleepless nights because of our "fraidey dog" and he'll only be quiet if he's in our presence and frankly, I don't want to sleep on the couch with him everytime he barks during a storm.

We've recently had some mild success by putting him in the mudroom and keeping the lights on all night for him, but I'd love some other suggestions. He typically sleeps in the kitchen, but I think the noise on the patio doors bothers him. He is not allowed in our bedroom.

Has anyone used those pheromone plug in type products?

[lil_geek]

I've never used anything like that.

My parents dog will run and hide and likes to be alone in a room with no windows and under something (desk, table, etc). If we know a storm is coming we make sure he can get somewhere he will be most comfy.

Our dog, needs to be NEAR people... she has been known to go through our screen door to come into the house, and will run if she is outside and can't get in. So we shut her in the porch, or let her in the house. Last night, she spent the ENTIRE night in the bathtub!

I think most dogs are inheriently scared of thunder/fireworks etc. and you just need to figure what works for them to make them most comfy.

[Kate&Joey]

Dog #2 is TERRIFIED of thunderstorms and starts freaking out whenever it rains or there is the slightest rumble of thunder in the distance. Since he weighs 95 pounds, it is difficult to handle since his size increases the possibility that he would (1) hurt himself or (2) hurt me or (3) destroy our rental house.

Dog#2 really needs a *cave.* In our previous house, he would hide in the basement closet under the stairs; with the de-humidifier going he couldn't hear the thunder/rain and it was far enough from the small windows that he couldn't see the lightning. In this house, there are no interior rooms with no windows and no basement. :rolleyes: So, I sucked it up and bought a crate. We have one of his dog beds in there to make it cozy, cover most of it with a blanket to make it more den-like, put a small fan on *high* right next to him to mask the scary noises, and keep the light on to minimize the effect of the lightning flashes.

Dog#2 also likes going into the bathtub, but we have skylights in the bathrooms so that kind of defeats the purpose. ;)

I read that playing loud classical music is good...something about the tempo of loud, orchestral music. DH has a CD appropriately called "Thunderous Classics" that we play when it is a really bad storm. We used "Rescue Remedy" before but I don't think it did much good.

I have also read that it's important that you don't make a big deal about *comforting* your dog during a storm. If you sit with them and pet them and try to re-assure them, it sends a signal to the dog that there's something really wrong. Supposedly, it's better to be more matter of fact about it. Just make sure he's safe and then go about your business. When Dog#2 starts pacing and acting like a freak, I say "Alright...get in your crate" and go turn on the fan. He might pace around and be evasive for a few minutes, but now he knows that it's *safer* in there and he feels more secure. I shut the door and leave him for the rest of the night.

HTH!

[Blossom]

Hmmm, you guys have given me a couple of things to consider. I do think my dog needs a "cave" or a small area where he feels safe. He always likes to nap under tables. I guess that's why he was less stressed in the mudroom since it's smaller than the kitchen and there are no windows.

I've been considering getting an entryway bench for the mudroom. Maybe I'll put a dogbed underneath the bench so he can run for cover! :) My cousin has offered me a free dog crate, but that will be my last resort option.
Thanks for sharing.

[rubyredslippers]

I read that putting a tight t-shirt on the dog before the thunder starts helps. I guess if you have teeny dog, you could try an ace bandage, maybe.

Mine is currently not happy--lots of thunder, and between thunderstorms, the kids down the road are lighting firecrackers. He is ok in the house, but refuses to go outside, which means I have had to clean up a couple times lately.

[jesvet]

Don't put an ace bandage on your dog- I would be very worried about constricting blood flow! I've never heard of that.

You can try the pheromone plug ins but thunderstorm anxiety is usually too strong for that to touch it. If it's a severe anxiety (to the point the dog become destructive or harms himself) some owners end up trying anti-anxiety drugs under the supervision of their vet. There are companies that make thunderstorm tapes for you to use in a desensitization/ counterconditioning training method as well.

[gayle]

Don't put an ace bandage on your dog- I would be very worried about constricting blood flow! I've never heard of that.

You can try the pheromone plug ins but thunderstorm anxiety is usually too strong for that to touch it. If it's a severe anxiety (to the point the dog become destructive or harms himself) some owners end up trying anti-anxiety drugs under the supervision of their vet. There are companies that make thunderstorm tapes for you to use in a desensitization/ counterconditioning training method as well.


Jes is dead-on here. NEVER use an ace bandage on a dog. For any reason, unless prescribed by a Vet for a specific problem.

I have horror stories I could tell about idiot owners, of Springers I bred, who were trying to make sure that the ear leather, and ear feathers looked "perfect" in the ring...
Gahh.... You don't want to know what I have been through..
NEVER constrict blood flow to any extremity unless it is life or death. Or determined by a licensced Veterinarian, for a health reason.

I am starting to become a fan of tranqulizing dogs who have extreme reactions to weather etc. A tranquilizer wears off, meanwhile, dog sleeps.


Buspar springs to mind.

[dreamgirly]

Our shihtzu shakes & convulses when there's a loud thunderstorm. He gets very needy - HAS to sit in your lap. And he pees on the tile floor if we're not home when it's thundering.

I just worry sometimes that he's getting too stressed out, and he doesn't realize it's just thunder - I guess it seems like 'the end of the world' type of noise to the dogs? I dunno. ??

[skyblu]

I tried the pheromone thingy for our dog's separation anxiety, and it did nothing. It didn't improve or change any of his anxieties in any way.

During thunderstorms, he'd crawl under the bed with his butt sticking out, shivering. So now we either let him on the bed with us and cuddle him, or he huddles with his blankie in his bed. I recently moved his bed and it's now under a bench-type thing in our room, and that has seemed to help. I guess it feels like a den/cave to him, now that he has a "roof"? Enclosed spaces work for him.

[rubyredslippers]

I wasn't thinking of wrapping the dog like you would a sprained ankle!!:eek:

According to the dog BBS where I heard about the T shirt, it has something to do with pressing down on the hair and making the dog's skin less sensitive to vibrations. It would be hard to find a t-shirt that small for a teeny dog.

(I have a terrible picture in my mind now of a Chihuahua with its little eyes bugging out.)

[fuzzy]

Daisy doesn't have severe reactions to T-storms (*knocks on wood*) -- at least not yet. But she does react and I flip flop between feeling terribly sorry for her and feeling terribly annoyed that she just won't calm down already!

We'll talk to our vet again if her reactions get more severe, but for now crating her with a blanket over the crate and giving her a benadryll (my answer to all life's problems! ;) ) so she gets drowsy and sleeps is how we manage.

[rileyandfredsmom]

Our big dog is scared of storms which means he has had a HORRIBLE spring/early summer this year (we are in TX and have had nothing but rain and storms for 4 months).

We usually know when a storm is coming because he starts panting and the whites of his eyes show and he just sits and looks around nervously panting and drooling. If it is in the middle of the night, we tend to wake up with him sitting on our shoulders, drool almost hitting our faces! The only thing that calms him is for me to get up and go sleep on the couch so he can snuggle into the back of my legs.

We watch the weather in the morning before we go to work and if there is a chance of rain/thunderstorms, we kennel him up in his bed with his blankets and put a blanket on top of the kennel so it becomes a den for him. That usually works to help keep him somewhat calm.

[skyblu]

Well, so much for Blue's "den". Our neighborhood got started early on the 4th of July fireworks and last night there were tons of loud firecracker noises. Poor Blue reverted to crawling under the bed (he barely fits, I'm afraid he'll hurt himself!) with only his butt showing, and he was shaking ans shivering the entire time.

FH and I wanted to go see the fireworks near our house tomorrow (they're awesome in this town!), but they do them literally 4 blocks from our house and we're worried Blue will freak being alone. :(

[Maggie8202]

I was just coming on to ask the same question... how funny.

I was looking for a natural/organic something. Haley has a "cave" and we call it her cave. It is a closet in our living room that is deep. We have even put a dog bed and blankets in there because it makes her feel safe. Last week we had two bad thunderstorms 2 nights in a row and the cave didn't work. She was freaked and out of her skin. I felt very bad for her, and tried everything for holding her on the coach (80 pound golden) to acting like nothing was happening. Nothing worked, and we were up all night listening to her panting and pacing.

I talked to my dh about getting her some medication, but he is so anti medication for anything and everything so he wants to try natural things first.

I think that if all else fails maybe tomorrow night I will put her in the bedroom with the ac on with some loud classical music and see how it works. I just feel like she is getting too stressed out.

There are some "pops" going on right now and she seems to be ignoring them. I just took her for a very long walk. Maybe I should do that tomorrow as well.

[Hello Kitty]

giving her a benadryll (my answer to all life's problems! ;) ) so she gets drowsy and sleeps is how we manage.

Really? My dog is flipping out tonight for the 3rd night in a row. I was waffling as to whether or not to give her a benadryl. She's just so worked up and anxious - with me home, she paces and cries, despite having exercised. If I were to leave, she'd pee all over the place (happened over the weekend).

We'll be asking the vet for some doggie xanax to have on hand for next year.

I'm hoping our doggies calm down soon, but unfortunately with the way the holiday is structured, we're all in for a long weekend. :(

[jesvet]

I was just coming on to ask the same question... how funny.

I was looking for a natural/organic something. Haley has a "cave" and we call it her cave. It is a closet in our living room that is deep. We have even put a dog bed and blankets in there because it makes her feel safe. Last week we had two bad thunderstorms 2 nights in a row and the cave didn't work. She was freaked and out of her skin. I felt very bad for her, and tried everything for holding her on the coach (80 pound golden) to acting like nothing was happening. Nothing worked, and we were up all night listening to her panting and pacing.

I talked to my dh about getting her some medication, but he is so anti medication for anything and everything so he wants to try natural things first.

I think that if all else fails maybe tomorrow night I will put her in the bedroom with the ac on with some loud classical music and see how it works. I just feel like she is getting too stressed out.

There are some "pops" going on right now and she seems to be ignoring them. I just took her for a very long walk. Maybe I should do that tomorrow as well.

You can try Rescue Remedy, but if it's as bad as you are describing I doubt it will work, and I would definitely try some medications. Why is your husband anti-medication? Using something with as wide a safety margin as benadryl is less harmful than letting her go through all the harmful effects of stress hormones on the body.

[sublime311]

Joining in late. My dog Luna is very storm phobic. It's not the noise as much as the change in the atmosphere. We always know when there is a storm on the horizon even if we can't see it or hear it.

Luna exhibits the usual behaviors - panting, shaking to the point of teeth chattering, excessive drooling, frantic scratching and pacing. Ugh.

We have had some relief with benadryl or acepromazine (preferred). The problem is that by the time we realize there's a problem she's already in hysterics. If we could somehow know about 30 minutes BEFORE she knew there was a storm coming, everything would be great. Anyway, we go ahead and give her a pill (or try to - sometimes she's so frantic she won't take it - even stuffed in a marshmallow) at the first sign of stress and it does take a bit of the edge off, but once the storm blows over, she's just dopey. Ugh, you can't win.

We've also tried associating the storm with a positive, by taking her outside (if there isn't lightning) and playing ball with her. She usually doesn't buy in to this trick.

We've tried the t-shirt tactic with questionable results. She's ok with it, but if she lays down she always manages to get all tangled up and all the commotion just causes more stress. It makes ME feel better when she's in it.

Uh.. What else..? We've definitely avoided baby talk while she's in that state - but it wasn't always like this which I'm sure added to the phobia. All that excited energy does nothing to calm her.

There seem to be a lot of dogs with sound-related phobias, Luna isn't one of them. We live near a shooting range, so I think she's desensitized to it. Her thing is atmosphere change (I get raging headaches, too) including wind and also lightning. I can't even use the flash on my camera AROUND her or it'll set her off.

Ok, I think that's it. Just wanted to share and hope that someone posts a miracle cure. I hate to see Luna suffer and frankly, there's a lot of suffering going on with her humans, too.

ETA: Luna is crate trained for nighttime sleeping - the crate (as cave) does nothing for her. If we let her, she would scratch at the door until she bleeds. She's taken to shoving her 50 lb self under the bed like Maggie's Haley.

[Maggie8202]

I will have to look up Rescue Remedy. He may even go for benadryl, I have never thought of that. How much benadryl would I give an 80 pound dog?

MY dh is just anti every kind of medication, he is a very "crunchy" kinda guy. He is very into alternative medication, which I do agree with to some extent but sometimes I feel it is necessary to use some medication for something like 4th of July!

Aside: I have the air conditioner on very loud and the tv volume very high. She has been sleeping even though it is very noisy outside! Every so often she lifts her head, but that's it. Maybe thunderstorms are just harder for her?

[sublime311]

Maggie, I think it's dosed at 1-2 mg per pound - one pill is 25mg, I believe, so... 3 pills for Haley..? You should call your vet's office to be sure.

[skyblu]

Last night I put DS' t-shirt on Blue, then he came on the bed with me and decided to lie ON TOP of me (he weighs 80+ pounds!) with his head under the covers, shivering the entire time. :(

We had given him Benadryl in the past, but then someone told us it was "cruel" because it didn't make him less panicky, he still felt the panic but was too drowsy to actually hide and make himself feel safer. :confused: Maybe we will try it again tonight.

[jesvet]

We had given him Benadryl in the past, but then someone told us it was "cruel" because it didn't make him less panicky, he still felt the panic but was too drowsy to actually hide and make himself feel safer. :confused: Maybe we will try it again tonight.

It's technically not an anxiolytic like Xanax, but I don't know, I still think if you're relaxed enough to be drowsy it is probably having some effect. I've never heard that particular argument.

[fuzzy]

Yeah, I don't think benedryll is cruel either (well, duh, considering I give it to her!). The thing is, if it's a particularly bad storm or if it's the first day of hunting season (and it therefore sounds like a flippin' war zone at our house) and she's had a benedryll, she'll still be up and pacing and panting and generally will be upset. That is, the stuff doesn't knock her out completely -- it just makes her drowsy and more liekly to sleep thorugh it.

[skyblu]

Thanks, jesvet and fuzzy. I think we will use Benadryl when absolutely necessary, without worrying that it's cruel. I didn't really think so either, since God knows whenever I take Benadryl it makes me too sleepy to care much about anything. But since this is my first dog I'm overly cautious!

[SweetRed]

My parents have always had huge German Shepherds that are/were petrified of thunderstorms, fireworks, etc. On the really bad nights, they use Benedryl. On the not-as-bad nights, they put the leash on the dog, lie her next to their bed, and loosely tuck the other end of the leash under the mattress. (The dog could easily pull the leash out from under if the bed if she wanted to. No chokin hazard.)

It sounds crazy, but the dog apparently feels "secure" and usually calms down right away. I agree that human contact helps.