It is summer time again and you might have observed that dogs have a hard time witnessing summer storms. It has generally been found that thunder phobia in dogs usually happens during the early ages between two and four years. This fear if prolonged can lead to various challenging behaviors in dogs like whining, scratching, tearing down the door frames in a state of panic, slobbering, and hiding. It can even get worse with age. As a pet-parent, it is very important for you to understand that these actions of the dogs are not to be taken as misbehavior by the dogs. These acts are symptoms of anxiety displayed by the dog when he is anxious about storms. Many vets have studied this specific behavior in dogs, but are still inconclusive about the part of the storm which causes anxiety in dogs. Whether it is the flashing lights, the noise or something else, irrespective of any of the reasons, the conclusive part is that there are certain dogs that worry in general and panic when they see any change in the atmosphere while there are others who are sensitive towards the sound. Dogs have innate quality of senses, which makes storms even more terrifying for them. They can sense the alterations in the air pressure and even low-frequency noises caused by storms that we as human beings cannot hear. There are certain vets, which believe that the dogs experience shock due to the buildup of static electricity that comes with thunderstorms. Calming the dog during the stormy season There is no quick fix mechanism to calm your dog if he is affected by storms. But if he is only mildly affected there are certain things that can help you calming the dog: Be with the dog during the storm The worst thing that can ever happen when your dog experiences a thunder fear is when you are not with him. If that happens, he will be even more fearful of the storm. So if you have heard about the predictions of a storm occurrence, remain with the dog at all times and ensure that he feels safe and sound when the storm comes. Take your dog to the safest place in the house It has been observed that dogs left outside in the storms are much more lively to get affected than the dogs that remain indoors. Dogs if left outside will try to escape from the yard or inscape into the house. While the damages done in the house can be costly, ultimately the damage done to the dog will prove to be dangerous. Hence, try to create a sound-proof den where the dog cannot hear, feel, see and smell the storm. Try to find out the most sound-proof room in your house. It has usually been observed that brick walls are much more useful in sound proofing than block walls and timber walls. You can even prepare a customized sound-proof den for your dog by contacting the local hardware store. Put on soothing sounds on CD to make the dog feel comfortable One way to divert the attention of your dog from the fright of the storm is by putting on soothing music to make the dog comfortable. You can even mask the noise of activity in shopping malls to divert the attention of the dog. Or you can play a radio in the den this will train the dog not to be frightened by the noise of the storm. Try Thundershirt on your dog Thundershirt has been a very famous product that has been recommended to be put on a shirt on your dog. It proves as a catalyst and provides a gentle, constant pressure on the dog which helps calm him down during storms. Earlier there were some companies which were doubting the effect of the product. But it has received rave responses from dog owners. The great thing is that it comes with a money back guarantee. Play his favorite game and distract him from storms In order to make the dog comfortable it is very important to divert him towards some activities that he loves like playing his favorite game and rewarding him with treats. With time you will see that the dog will associate the thunder and lightning with good stuff. Take the help of anxiety treatment If any of the things mentioned above do not work, the last resort would be to take the help of a vet who would recommend some treatment for the dog. There are lots of anxiety treatments available nowadays like Anxiety TFLN that can assist your dogs from calming down from unwelcome situations. Putting in IDs on your dog’s collar It has been observed that due to anxiety and fear from storms, dogs have the tendency to run out of the house. Hence, it is necessary for you as a dog owner to put a leash on the dog with proper ID so that in case he goes missing you can get him back through proper ID details. It is expected on the part of the dog to be frightened of severe storms, but as a dog owner it is your duty to ensure that they can learn to adjust to stormy conditions without developing any fear from it. |
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October 2023
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