Comments on: Thunderstorm fear in Dogs http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/ Alternative Veterinary Medicine Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:49:34 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Rose Greene http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-40798 Rose Greene Fri, 06 Aug 2010 15:08:56 +0000 http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/#comment-40798 My German Shepherd was freaking out this AM and we couldn't figure out what was going on. We turned on the TV and heard there was a severe thunder-lightening storm 30 miles away going on. She is notoriously afraid of T-storms. Is it possible she heard or felt the storm so far away? She is most comfortble under the dashboard of my car during bad storms. Thanks for ALL responses! My German Shepherd was freaking out this AM and we couldn’t figure out what was going on. We turned on the TV and heard there was a severe thunder-lightening storm 30 miles away going on. She is notoriously afraid of T-storms. Is it possible she heard or felt the storm so far away?

She is most comfortble under the dashboard of my car during bad storms.

Thanks for ALL responses!

]]> By: free movie http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-40759 free movie Wed, 30 Jun 2010 14:11:52 +0000 http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/#comment-40759 Thanks for publishing this, I thought it was really helpful, and it clarified almost all of the concerns I had. Thanks for publishing this, I thought it was really helpful, and it clarified almost all of the concerns I had.

]]> By: Patricia Heywood http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-40757 Patricia Heywood Sun, 27 Jun 2010 22:28:39 +0000 http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/#comment-40757 Lawl I just noticed, you have the same name as I do. We both think the same way. Anyway, I've been stopping by your homepage lately especially when I'm bored and have nothing to do <a href="http://rene9977.vox.com/" rel="nofollow">:)</a> Lawl I just noticed, you have the same name as I do. We both think the same way. Anyway, I’ve been stopping by your homepage lately especially when I’m bored and have nothing to do :)

]]> By: Julie http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-40321 Julie Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:37:51 +0000 http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/#comment-40321 Ive tried walking our pit during the first part of storms, seems to work sometimes, most times not. He is an outdoor dog and will do anything to get out of his yard and in to the house. Oddly enough, he is usually happy sitting under an awning.....in a cushioned yard chair, as long as he is out of the rain and by the house. We can not bring him into the house because he has a history of eating cats and tries and will probably hurt our small dogs. This dog will move large rocks somehow to dig out of his yard. We are going to try the aconite, after lots of research I just dont think tranqs are the answer for his drive and personality. Ive tried walking our pit during the first part of storms, seems to work sometimes, most times not. He is an outdoor dog and will do anything to get out of his yard and in to the house. Oddly enough, he is usually happy sitting under an awning…..in a cushioned yard chair, as long as he is out of the rain and by the house. We can not bring him into the house because he has a history of eating cats and tries and will probably hurt our small dogs. This dog will move large rocks somehow to dig out of his yard. We are going to try the aconite, after lots of research I just dont think tranqs are the answer for his drive and personality.

]]> By: Sylvia http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-39975 Sylvia Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:41:03 +0000 http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/#comment-39975 We have experienced the same problems listed in the postings above with our ~7yr old lab mix. She is extremely scared of thunderstorms and, like so many other owners have mentioned, she keeps us up all night. If we are not home, she is extremely distructive. We mistakenly tried putting her in her crate during storms, only to realize that made her anxiety worse. She has chewed through numerous metal crates out of pure anxiety...I've ready so many postings over the years and have tried so many things with little to no improvment. In fact, things seem to be getting slightly worse. One thing I've never heard mention of is this--has anyone ever tried actually taking their dog outside during a thunderstorm? I have taken our dog outside in the middle of the night and sat on our screened-in porch. I was able to get her to stay calm during a few crashes of thunder and bolts of lightening. I'm wondering though, if I should even try taking her on a walk during a storm, so that she will get the full effect, rain and all. This seems to me one of the only ways to really "face" her fear. Just wondering--has anyone else given this a shot and how did it go? We have experienced the same problems listed in the postings above with our ~7yr old lab mix. She is extremely scared of thunderstorms and, like so many other owners have mentioned, she keeps us up all night. If we are not home, she is extremely distructive. We mistakenly tried putting her in her crate during storms, only to realize that made her anxiety worse. She has chewed through numerous metal crates out of pure anxiety…I’ve ready so many postings over the years and have tried so many things with little to no improvment. In fact, things seem to be getting slightly worse. One thing I’ve never heard mention of is this–has anyone ever tried actually taking their dog outside during a thunderstorm? I have taken our dog outside in the middle of the night and sat on our screened-in porch. I was able to get her to stay calm during a few crashes of thunder and bolts of lightening. I’m wondering though, if I should even try taking her on a walk during a storm, so that she will get the full effect, rain and all. This seems to me one of the only ways to really “face” her fear. Just wondering–has anyone else given this a shot and how did it go?

]]> By: Kimberly http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-39497 Kimberly Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:49:31 +0000 http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/#comment-39497 Anna, You may want to consider The Anxiety Wrap - one of the commercial treatments that I believe Dr. Lord is referring to in her article. My business partner, who is a veteran (20+ yrs) dog trainer, invented it to help calm her client dogs. It uses a technique called "Maintained Pressure" which is the principle behind the hug vest that helps calm autistic children. While there's no "magic pill" out there, The Anxiety Wrap has helped thousands of dogs over the past 7 years overcome thunderstorm fear, separation anxiety and many other fears and anxieties. It operates on a totally different principle than the Defender Cape, is easy to use, and you can leave it on your dog when you leave the house. Whether you decide to give it a try, I hope you can find something (or things) that help your Wolfhound! Kimberly Anna,
You may want to consider The Anxiety Wrap – one of the commercial treatments that I believe Dr. Lord is referring to in her article. My business partner, who is a veteran (20+ yrs) dog trainer, invented it to help calm her client dogs. It uses a technique called “Maintained Pressure” which is the principle behind the hug vest that helps calm autistic children. While there’s no “magic pill” out there, The Anxiety Wrap has helped thousands of dogs over the past 7 years overcome thunderstorm fear, separation anxiety and many other fears and anxieties.

It operates on a totally different principle than the Defender Cape, is easy to use, and you can leave it on your dog when you leave the house. Whether you decide to give it a try, I hope you can find something (or things) that help your Wolfhound!
Kimberly

]]> By: Anna http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-38242 Anna Sun, 26 Jul 2009 16:24:59 +0000 http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/#comment-38242 Karen, Thank you so much for the recommendations. Fiona (wolfhound mix) kept us up for 5 hours last night during an especially bad storm, and she seems to be getting worse. She is now thrashing around uncontrollably to the point that we have to pin her down, and she also becomes aggressive toward our other dog during storms. I will try to find the aconitum napellus and get it in her system asap. I will let everyone know how it works. Thanks! Anna Karen,
Thank you so much for the recommendations. Fiona (wolfhound mix) kept us up for 5 hours last night during an especially bad storm, and she seems to be getting worse. She is now thrashing around uncontrollably to the point that we have to pin her down, and she also becomes aggressive toward our other dog during storms. I will try to find the aconitum napellus and get it in her system asap. I will let everyone know how it works. Thanks!
Anna

]]> By: catherine http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-32230 catherine Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:49:19 +0000 http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/#comment-32230 The drier sheets work great on my Papillion. She was a rescue from a puppy mill and was about 7 when I got her last year. I felt so bad for her every time a storm was coming as she looked like she was having a panic attack, panting and pacing. It took a few times with the sheets but now I don't even need them! You must rub them all over and repeat every so often during a prolonged storm. It takes the static electricity out of their coat. Best part is they smell good! The drier sheets work great on my Papillion. She was a rescue from a puppy mill and was about 7 when I got her last year. I felt so bad for her every time a storm was coming as she looked like she was having a panic attack, panting and pacing.
It took a few times with the sheets but now I don’t even need them! You must rub them all over and repeat every so often during a prolonged storm. It takes the static electricity out of their coat. Best part is they smell good!

]]> By: Karen http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-12553 Karen Sun, 24 May 2009 15:28:53 +0000 http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/#comment-12553 Anna, I have a 8 y/o Brittany who is terrified of t-storms to the point of destruction. She will try to tunnel through walls and floors when it's really bad. She is worse at night or before dawn, and often sleeps through storms during the day if humans are with her. The flash of lightening without thunder is enough to set her off, and she can sense a storm up to 50 miles away. Rescue Remedy has never worked for her. I tried phosphorous once, but likely didn't administer it properly. I've had the best luck with Aconitum Napellus. I put one pellet in her water bowl when I have to leave the house on every day that there is even the slightest risk of a t-storm. Getting the remedy into the dog's system well before the storm seems to work best. I have seen her sleep through some of the worst storms when using Aconite in this manner. You might try putting one 30c pellet in your Wolfhound's bowl every day; there' no harm in it. I also had very bad luck with human sedatives; Sadie Mae actually became aggressive towards our other dog on Valium. BTW, the article above mentions a bathtub for refuge. One of the worst places to be if lightening strikes the house. Anna, I have a 8 y/o Brittany who is terrified of t-storms to the point of destruction. She will try to tunnel through walls and floors when it’s really bad. She is worse at night or before dawn, and often sleeps through storms during the day if humans are with her. The flash of lightening without thunder is enough to set her off, and she can sense a storm up to 50 miles away. Rescue Remedy has never worked for her. I tried phosphorous once, but likely didn’t administer it properly. I’ve had the best luck with Aconitum Napellus. I put one pellet in her water bowl when I have to leave the house on every day that there is even the slightest risk of a t-storm. Getting the remedy into the dog’s system well before the storm seems to work best. I have seen her sleep through some of the worst storms when using Aconite in this manner. You might try putting one 30c pellet in your Wolfhound’s bowl every day; there’ no harm in it. I also had very bad luck with human sedatives; Sadie Mae actually became aggressive towards our other dog on Valium. BTW, the article above mentions a bathtub for refuge. One of the worst places to be if lightening strikes the house.

]]> By: Anna http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/comment-page-1/#comment-12149 Anna Wed, 06 May 2009 11:45:37 +0000 http://www.vetlord.org/thunderstorm-fear-in-dogs/#comment-12149 We have a 90-lb wolfhound mix who is terrified and quite destructive during even the lightest thunderstorms. We have tried the storm defender cape, the dap difuser, Acepromazine, and Xanax (which made her more destructive). 25mg of Ace used to help her somewhat, but even it doesn't help her now. She keeps us up all night because if we don't attend to her she will tear things up and urinate all over the house. Does anybody have any suggestions? Right now we have to lay in a small brick-floored closet with her until the storms end, which is generally a long time since we live in somewhat of a tornado belt. Honestly, since we've tried nearly everything, I can't see phosphorus or drops of flower essence helping...Please help! We have a 90-lb wolfhound mix who is terrified and quite destructive during even the lightest thunderstorms. We have tried the storm defender cape, the dap difuser, Acepromazine, and Xanax (which made her more destructive). 25mg of Ace used to help her somewhat, but even it doesn’t help her now. She keeps us up all night because if we don’t attend to her she will tear things up and urinate all over the house. Does anybody have any suggestions? Right now we have to lay in a small brick-floored closet with her until the storms end, which is generally a long time since we live in somewhat of a tornado belt. Honestly, since we’ve tried nearly everything, I can’t see phosphorus or drops of flower essence helping…Please help!

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