Dogs diagnosed with storm phobia can react with anxiety or fear to wind rain thunder lightning and other associated stimuli including barometric pressure changes the smell of rain static electricity and even time of day.
Dog storm anxiety medication.
A well trained dog is easier to socialize than a dog without training and obedience classes are a great place for dogs to meet other dogs in a controlled environment.
According to mychelle blake msw cdbc studies have found that breed age sex and acquisition of the dog can increase the likelihood of a dog experiencing storm anxiety explaining female dogs and neutered males are more likely to be thunder phobic as well was dogs that were rehomed.
Preventing and treating thunderstorm phobia.
By some estimates at least 40 percent of dogs experience noise anxiety.
Play a cd of thunder recordings at low enough levels that don t frighten your dog while giving them treats or playing a game.
Dog thunderstorm anxiety is a disorder characterized by a persistent and exaggerated fear of storms or the stimuli that are associated with storms.
In the winter desensitize your dog to the sounds of a storm.
It sedates the dog but is not an anti anxiety medication.
But like someone having a nightmare in which he or she cannot run from danger the frightened dog can t move to escape.
Gradually increase the volume over the course of several months stopping if your dog shows any signs of anxiety.
I have a fool proof thunderstorm detector more accurate than the local weather doppler system.
No matter which medication your veterinarian chooses you will also need to put behavior modification protocols in place in order to help your dog work through their anxiety.
Prescription anti anxiety medications for dogs are sometimes needed with more severe storm phobias or for dogs who do not respond to over the counter treatments.
And she s sitting right here on my lap which makes typing a bit of a challenge.
Moderate to severe anxiety often responds best to a prescription anti anxiety medication and behavior modification training.