hunderstorms, if this were true, dogs that live in an area where thunder is common would not be concerned about the mêlée. Instead, dogs that have grown up and lived their entire lives in areas that have frequent thunderstorms can still be scared of thunder.
However, desensitization does work to a degree. There are CDs you can buy that replicate the sounds of a storm or you can make your own by recording the sound of firecrackers going off.
To desensitize your dog:
- Begin playing the recording at a low volume after the dog has been well exercised – feed her, play with her, give her a treat if she is not acting fearful or play a favorite game.
- During the following session, turn the volume up a level and feed or distract in some way
- Each session, increase the volume marginally, allowing her to adjust to the louder storm sounds. Do not increase the volume until she seems completely relaxed with the level and either ignores the sounds entirely or is aware of the commotion but is not bothered or stressed by it. This may take several weeks or even months depending on the severity of the fear.
- If at any time the dog does begin to display fear or anxiety, turn off the recording immediately and give her a break. At the next session, turn the volume down until she no longer reacts and start over.
Talk to your veterinarian about the process of desensitizing your pet to thunder and lightning. There are medications available that help to decrease canine anxiety, allowing the desensitizing process to progress faster and with less stress for both you and your dog! These canine anti-anxiety/anti-depressants are not a quick sedative but take weeks to work at peak efficacy. However, once they begin to work, behavior modification progresses as a faster pace with less speed bumps.
What to do When Your Dog is Scared of Thunder and You have tried Everything
Some dogs that have suffered a traumatic event in conjunction with loud sounds may never fully recover from the experience no matter how hard you try. This can mean they are so miserable that they are a danger to themselves or others during a thunderstorm or fireworks display. Or sometimes there is one dog in a multi-dog household that is the instigator and before long dogs that were once calm during thunderstorms are acting fearful.
If everything has been done for the dog that is scared of thunder including seeking the help of an animal behaviorist, retraining and behavior modification, and you have consulted with your veterinarian, the most humane course of action is sedating the pet during thunderstorms and fireworks displays. Although this may seem extreme, imagine the fear your beloved pet during these storms and how awful it must be for them. Sedation would only be a last resort.
If your dog is scared of thunder, there are avenues of treatment to help him over his fear. It can take time but through behavior modification, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.Click here for reuse options!
Copyright 2015 Pet Yak