Who loves the thunder?
With the storm season already here it’s our dogs that sometimes fear them most. There’s no doubt that dogs cope with thunderstorms differently. We’ve had two dogs that responded like opposites. Your dog will use all her senses when a storm is brewing. She hears way beyond our auditory range and will hear the rumblings of thunder long before we do. Her body detects changes in barometric pressure and also the static electric field beforehand. Wind and flashes of lightning can send her scuffling. Dogs that wouldn’t usually attempt to leave the property at any other time, can become desperate to escape, whilst others will be reassured enough just by laying at your feet. Cats will try to climb into a tight spot when a storm is at hand but some dogs will try too. Others have been known to injure themselves when they get stuck in a tight place or to have even chewed on door handles to ‘get away’.
Not all experts agree on the best steps to help your dog weather a storm but we definitely advise allowing your dog indoors whenever possible during such an event. The two things your dog will most likely do is let you know there’s a storm coming and attempt to seek shelter. Noises can startle humans too so an interior room helps dampen sound a little.
Playing some music on the stereo or turning the weather channel up louder can help dull the punctuation of thunder. Try not to fuss over your dog and please don’t scold them. Allow them to huddle in an ‘out of the way place’ such as behind the sofa or in the bathroom if that’s where they choose to hang out but only if it’s safe and they won’t get stuck. Put a blanket there for them too. Dogs with thunder phobias often choose a tiled area. If your dog regularly uses a crate as a safe place, ideally leave the crate door open.
You can investigate using a ‘gentle-pressure’ item such as a Thundercoat or Thundershirt specifically designed for your dog to wear. If correctly fitted they generally help to reduce fear symptoms in around 80% of dogs. The method is based on the same principle as swaddling a baby, applying pressure to reduce anxiety.
If your dog has a really desperate time with storms you can speak to your vet about sedatives but you do have to be present to administer them and remember that they do not remove the cause of the fear. Make sure your dog is micro-chipped so if they do flee, you can be reunited quickly.
The Vet Shed sells Thundershirts at…https://www.thevetshed.com.au/buy/thundershirt/THUNDERS?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl76unf-M3gIVWnRgCh2UzAGzEAAYASAAEgJD_fD_BwE
Leah & Angela OMeara
Hound Dog Day Care (Specialists in Dog Minding & Dog Boarding, Pet Sitting Brisbane & Doggy Day Care Brisbane)