Wednesday, April 3, 2013

A Look Behind Your Dogs Fear of Thunderstorms

By Geraldine Dimarco


Anxiety in dogs is a relatively familiar concern that has besieged the poor animals and their worried owners alike. Unfortunately, unlike their human counterpart, dogs cannot articulate these fears and can only express themselves through harmful and destructive behavior. Because of unreasonable and very often gripping dog fears, many of the victims dig through walls and floors until they are bleeding in an attempt to get away from their source of fear.

One of the most common of these phobias is the fear of thunderstorms. If this is your pet, consult with your veterinarian as to how to treat your dog best. There are many pharmaceutical medications available that will help your dog deal with this; however, it must be noted that these medications will not cure the phobia. Usually, these will only serve to sedate and calm your dog.

Because ingesting chemicals can be very harmful to the immune system, find and employ natural means to treat the problem first. This article will talk about methods you can use to treat dog fears without having to administer medicinal drugs.

Playing relaxing music is one of the easiest ways to ease anxiety in dogs. Music therapy has been scientifically proven to reduce the stress levels of human beings as well as animals. Five minutes of harp music will noticeably calm the dog; ten to twenty minutes more of a soothing melody will bring him to a state of deeper relaxation.

Applying a body wrap to dogs have been said to also help dispel the nervous energy in the animal. The constant and maintained pressure that the wrap lends, quiets the nerve receptors of the restless canine. You can use T-shirts or any stretch fabrics to hug the dogs torso firmly in place. Bind the dog before he tenses up so he will not associate the wrap with the phobia.

Counter conditioning is a technique many dog behaviorists use in training animals. This is done by displacing the source of fear with another situation which has been proven to get a favorable reaction from the dog. For instance, you are simulating a thunderstorm at home. Begin very softly with the sound of thunder. As the intensity of the volume subtly grows, feed the dog his favorite doggie treats to keep him distracted.

If these do not work, a natural supplement that improves this phobia is melatonin. Melatonin is an over the counter medication people use to treat insomnia. When the proper dosage is administered to the canine, he remains awake but has distinctly stopped being fearful. Be aware though, that there are differing manufacturers so the quality and dosage one should mete out will differ. Consult your veterinarian before you proceed.

The degree by which the fear of thunderstorms in dogs will manifest varies. Some say that street dogs or rescued dogs are more likely to be traumatized by irrational and often, difficult to deal with phobias. Visit the vet for regular check-ups so you have an accurate diagnosis of the problem that besets your dog.




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