Thunder Phobia

Large numbers of thunderstorms occur across Australia all year-round and can be terrifying for our dogs. Heavy rain, thunder, wind and lightning can leave them salivating, panting, hiding and trembling with fear.

If your canine family member starts to shake as soon as the skies darken, here are some things you can do to help them.

SECURITY

Your dog will feel more secure if they have a place they can settle in when they’re frightened. For some dogs this may be a crate; for others it may be the corner of the room with their favourite blanket. Spray the area with a dog appeasing pheromone, as this can also reduce their anxiety.

DE-SENSITISATION

This involves playing a recording of a thunderstorm, initially at a very low volume while giving your dog treats and affection for staying calm. As they get used to the noise, you can increase the volume so when a real storm occurs, they are less stressed by the sounds. This can work with some dogs but it seems that it’s not just noise that frightens dogs; they can become distressed by the flashes of light and the changes in air pressure. You can’t expose your dogs to these during training, so de-sensitisation alone may not make a big difference to their storm phobia.

DISTRACTION

Some dogs will enjoy a favourite game when a storm is approaching and be less stressed by the weather. If you’re going to try this, start the game well before the storm arrives because dogs that are panicking are less likely to be distracted. You may want to save their favourite toy just for scary weather; this will teach your dog that storms also bring good times.

WRAP THEM UP

Many people claim that putting a ‘thundershirt’ – a snug fitting coat that targets various pressure points – on their dog helps with storm-phobia. It’s a technique that is worth a try because there are no side effects and it may just make a difference. It is thought that wrapping a dog makes them feel secure, similar to the effect of swaddling newborn babies.

MEDICATION

Anti-anxiety drugs can have a positive effect on the wellbeing of dogs during thunderstorms. Some medications can help with generalised anxiety and are given on an ongoing basis. Others have a very short duration of action and used on an as-needed basis as a storm approaches. They are safe to use and have few, if any side effects. Some dogs will have what is known as a paradoxical reaction to these medications, which means they respond in the opposite way to what’s expected – they become more excited than less anxious. That’s why it’s important to use a drug for the first time when there is no storm just to make sure it has the desired effect.

If your dog suffers from storm anxiety, please talk to us and together we can work out a plan to minimise their distress.