A storm is on the horizon, damaging winds are blowing, lighting is causing havoc and all you can think about is how much damage your pet will do to himself or your house. You are not alone. Many dogs are euthanized every year because of their fear of thunderstorms. It doesn't have to be this way. Now there are several routes to take to get your dog's fear under control. From desensitazation to herbal remedies, there is hope!
Let's start with the easiest method -
Natural Remedies -
Actually the easiest is through pharmaceuticals but who wants to put that type of thing into their pet anyway! There are natural methods that work just as well and so we will focus on those.
Bach flower remedies - "Bach flower remedies are dilutions of flower material developed by Edward Bach, an English physician and homeopath, in the 1930s. The remedies are intended primarily for emotional and spiritual conditions, including but not limited to depression, anxiety, insomnia and stress."
The most popular of these Bach flower remedies is Rescue Remedy . This wonderful combination helps your pet become less stressed during those anxiety moments like thunderstorms.
Homeopathic remedies - "Homeopathy (also spelled homoeopathy or homœopathy) is a form of alternative medicine, first proposed by German physician Samuel Hahnemann in 1796, that attempts to treat patients with heavily diluted preparations which are claimed to cause effects similar to the symptoms presented."
A proven formula that is all natural and works very well for anxiety and fear is Homeopet Anxiety TFLN.
Melatonin - It has been recently found that melatonin works as a stress reliever for dogs. Humans tend to use this product to help them sleep. Dogs however do not seem to be effected the same way. They will normally stay awake but in a calmer state. The usage of this product should be discussed with your veterinarian as dosage requirements are different than those for humans.
Behavior Modification -
There are a few things in this category that can help out. It's nice with dogs, many are food oriented and easily trained. Using some of these techniques along with the above remedies, may be needed for those hard cases.
Music therapy - We've all heard the saying "Music soothes the savage beast." Well, it's true! If you're searching for a way to calm an overly anxious dog, harp music may be the answer. Harp music has been successfully tested the effects of the vibrations and blended tones on wolves, dogs, cats, monkeys, goats, sheep, donkeys and gorillas.
How does it work? It is believed that the vibrations of the strings send out overtones -- some of which are inaudible to the human ear. The harmonic overtones work at a cellular level and reduce stress levels.
Scientific studies indicate the benefits of music therapy for humans: slowing the heart rate, lowering blood pressure, speeding post-surgery recovery, elevating endorphin levels, bolstering immune function, decreasing stress related hormones.
Hug therapy - You should be hugging your pet regularly but now it has been shown that those hugs can do much more. Hugging seems to calm and focus some anxious and stressed dogs. Neurobiologists believe that any type of trauma can damage nerve receptors, leading to exaggerated responses to stimuli. By applying constantly maintained pressure, the wrap provides an unchanging, quieting stimulus that causes the receptors to adapt and modify their thresholds in a cumulative manner.
Desensitization and Counter Conditioning - Desensitization is the process by which an anxiety producing stimulus, in this case thunder, is presented so subtly as to not produce a fearful response. Very gradually the intensity of the stimulus, or volume of the thunder, is increased, always keeping it below the fear producing threshold. Counter conditioning is the conditioning of an individual to respond to the feared stimulus with a reaction incompatible with the undesirable response. For example, the dog is encouraged to enjoy delicious food treats, as the thunder volume increases.
There are many "storm" cd's available today. You can use these to slowly build a tolerance within your pet.
Don't give up! This can be a long process but well worth the effort. Take your time, be easy on your pet and the two of you will be enjoying a good summer storm in no time!
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1 comments:
These are all great and sensitive/humane ways to understand it is NOT funny or a passing thing. These fears can grow and cause severe reactions like bolting from the home and running away. Work with your pet and perhaps try several methods. When possible, watch the weather channel and prepare in advance as the stress your pet feels is very real. Work as a team to lessen the blow as the time will come when you won't be home and a storm arises. All great ideas.
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