With warm summer weather comes the fear of the dreaded thunderstorms. This fear usually resonates higher with our four-legged friends. Thunderstorms can seem like no big deal to us, but to our pets it can be the complete opposite. Thunderstorms are more commonly known to have an impact in dogs than in cats. Pets can develop this fear at a very early age, but one random night with lots of thunder activity can create this phobia. Fireworks celebrations are another situation when your pet can be frightened. The sound of fireworks going off, whether in close proximity or not, can make your pet feel very anxious.
Familiar symptoms are increased panting, drooling, pacing, whining, cowering, or hiding, or pets may even start to shake. They can also try to find an escape, leading to accidents in the house or even destroyed furniture. Contacting your veterinarian as soon as these signs are recognized is the best place to start in helping your pet with their storm phobia.
Even though it is not known what triggers this phobia in pets, veterinarians suspect that they are set off by an increase in wind, noise from the thunder, the flashing light from lightning, barometric pressure changes, and low frequency rumbles preceding a storm that are imperceptible to the human ear. If you see your pet become more anxious from everyday noises in the household or slight changes in day to day activity, just imagine what a storm can do when the noises and environmental changes are magnified!
What you can do at home
There are some steps you can take to help your pet cope. First, try to offer them a safe place to go when a storm occurs. Their crate, an isolated spot in the basement, or a room with you with some background noise to drown out the sounds of thunder can help to calm them. If you begin to notice that there is one spot in particular that your pet always seems to run to during a storm, make sure that it's safe and accessible to them so as not to increase their anxiety.
An interesting idea to consider would be to place your pet into a snug garment. Researchers find that placing your pet into a snug t-shirt or pressure wrap can have a calming effect similar to swaddling a baby.
Before you try household remedies to comfort your pet though, remember that this can slightly improve things but also has the potential to make matters worse. It is best in these types of situations to consult with your veterinarian for proper advice.
Retraining: desensitization and counter-conditioning
Fear responses or phobias can develop from either a single event or continued exposure where the dog cannot escape. Responses may vary from a generalized pacing or panting to a more agitated response which may become destructive or panicked.
Desensitization and counter-conditioning are used to retrain the dog. Basic obedience commands with appropriate rewards and responses are essential. The aim is to achieve a calm state consistently on command before starting any desensitization. Begin in situations where the fear stimulus is not present, so that you can maintain control and ensure that the dog will perform the wanted behaviour when expected. Associate training with favoured treats and rewards in a favourite location in the house, particularly where a storm or other loud noises may not be as evident. Then during the storm, use your rewards, location and commands to maintain a quiet environment. It is important not to punish the dog during a fearful episode – this will only serve to reinforce the negative effects. Try to maintain a calm attitude to help calm your pet and decrease the anxiety. It is also important to try to ignore any fearful behaviour, since this may be observed as a reward for the unwanted behaviour.
In order to desensitize your dog, it is advantageous to introduce the stimulus at a low enough level that it does not invoke the fear response, while encouraging your basic training again. Gradually increase the stimulus – i.e. a tape recording of loud noises, music with a heavy beat – while training the dog to lie quietly in that favourite area to receive a treat.
When to contact us
If your pet is having problems with fear of thunderstorms, please discuss the best approach with your veterinarian prior to attempting any of the above suggestions. Depending on the severity of your pet's anxiety, simple behavioural modification or even giving anti-anxiety medications before the storm could help significantly; in other cases, more complex treatments may be warranted. Drug therapy may also be a useful adjunct in treating these problems. Make an appointment today with your veterinarian, who will work with you to set up a treatment plan that best fits your pet's needs.