| A fear of thunder and other loud bangs can cause | | | | am also being advised that if the Phosphorous does |
| some dog's extreme distress. With the use of certain | | | | not seem to work you may try Aconitum Napellus |
| dog obedience training methods and some drugs we | | | | 30C. It is administered in the same way as |
| can desensitise dogs. | | | | Phosphorous. |
| Drug UseThere are drugs that can help us to relax an | | | | Flower Remedies |
| anxious dog. The veterinary drug of choice is one | | | | Common remedies are: Rescue Remedy, Calming |
| that comes from the benzodiazepine family, an | | | | Essence or Five Flower Formula. All are made from a |
| anxiolytic drug. Usually available under a prescription, | | | | selection of flowers. Try one remedy at a time and |
| wherever you are in the world, the drug is distributed | | | | see which works better. |
| under several names. The following are the more | | | | If none work then you might try single flower |
| common brands: | | | | remedies such as Mimulus, or Rock Rose. If yo ufind |
| Alprazolam (Xanax)(Xanax XR)( Nirvam), Diazepam | | | | an improvement then you can start combining the |
| (Valium)(Diastat), Clonazepam (Klonopin), Lorazepam | | | | single flower dose with the multi flower remedies to |
| (Ativan), Flurazepam (Dalmane). Your vet will discuss | | | | achieve a good balance. |
| side effects and the dangers of exceeding | | | | Music Therapy |
| recommended dosage and duration of treatments. | | | | The research done on this therapy indicates that |
| The drugs are all addictive and will lead to with drawl | | | | playing live harp music worked to calm affected dogs |
| issues if given for periods longer than advised by | | | | in over 95% of cases. Playing recorded harp music |
| your vet. You may experience extreme mood swings | | | | was effective in over 87% of cases. |
| and be wary of being bitten by a dog suffering these | | | | Body Wraps |
| symptoms. | | | | I am aware of 2 designs, but there are probably |
| Another drug, a member of the tricyclics | | | | more designs out there. The two I am aware of are |
| antidepressant (TCA) chemical class, usage of which | | | | Anxiety Wrap ( and Thunder Shirt ( |
| is becoming more common, is Clomipramine | | | | Both of these wraps are made from elasticised |
| (Anafranil). The veterinary name for this drug is | | | | material and Velcro and are designed to fit tightly |
| Clomicalm, and is used for both antidepressant and | | | | around the dogs shoulders and torso and produces a |
| anxiolytic treatments, including panic attacks. | | | | feeling of security and calmness in the dog. |
| I did not tell you this and I will deny it if asked, but | | | | Behaviour Modification |
| ask your vet to prescribe the human version of this | | | | Crate training, positive rewards, desensitization, and |
| drug (Clomipramine) as it costs around a quarter of | | | | calming reassurance are all techniques that, with or |
| the veterinary drug. | | | | without drug or natural medicines, can go a long way |
| Natural and Homeopathic treatments | | | | to totally curing noise phobias. |
| An over the counter hormone used by people for | | | | But consistency and a lot of patience is required and |
| insomnia treatment has shown promising results for | | | | whilst you are working on the behaviour modification, |
| treatment of noise phobia in animals. This is Melatonin. | | | | you may need to combine this with some natural or |
| Most health shops and pharmacies stock melatonin | | | | holistic remedies. Dog obedience training methods, |
| and recommended dosage for most dogs is 1.5mg | | | | including the click and treat or positive reward |
| for dogs under 20 lbs/9 kilos, 2 to 3 mg. For dogs | | | | system, is used to crate train the dog and for |
| between 20 and 40 lbs/ 9 to15 kilos, and 6mg, for | | | | behaviour modification training. |
| dogs over 40 lbs/15 kilos. | | | | Desensitization works on the basis of introducing |
| The dose can be administered as soon as you detect | | | | taped storm noises under controlled conditions and |
| any signs of rising distress. Watch the dog to see its | | | | gradually increasing the noise level until the dog can |
| reactions as the storm approaches. You may need to | | | | happily ignore the reason for his anxiety. Calming |
| repeat the melatonin dosage in some cases. | | | | reassurance involves the dog's owner brushing the |
| As production of melatonin is not controlled, quality | | | | dog with long, slow, light brush strokes from head to |
| can vary. Holistic stores or holistic vets often stock a | | | | tail during the storm. This tends to settle and calm |
| higher quality product. Some dogs have been found | | | | the dog. |
| to respond favourably to a dose of a homeopathic | | | | Conclusion |
| remedy, Phosphorous PHUS 30C, available in health | | | | As outlined above, there are several ways of |
| stores. | | | | alleviating your dog's anxieties. Taking the least |
| The fact that you should not touch this compound | | | | intrusive options first, such as the flower remedies |
| with your fingers worries me. Dosage instructions | | | | combined with dog obedience training methods, and |
| have you depositing 3 or 4 pellets into the back of | | | | working up to the last resort, the stronger drugs, |
| the dog's throat. The dose is repeated every 15 | | | | you can find a level where your dog responds and |
| minutes until you see signs that the dog is calming | | | | begins to relax before and during severe thunder |
| down, and then you stop. | | | | storms and can start getting over his fear of |
| I am being reassured by homeopathy practitioners | | | | thunder. |
| that it is safe for your dog and has no side effects. I | | | | |