Help with Thunderstorm Anxiety

[seeuatx]

My 10 year old JRT has always had anxiety over thunderstorms for as long as I can remember. In the past we have been able to find help with ThunderShirts and Rescue Remedy, but neither seem to be working quite as well anymore. If I can use the Rescue Remedy far before the first clap of thunder, we may be ok. If not, the stuff makes almost no difference. I can sometimes distract him for part of it with a filled Kong or his doggy ice cream cups, but those only last about 15 min tops before the anxiety gets the better of him.

He is not horrible. Just runs around barking and working himself into a tizzy. My worry is that he has epilepsy and I’m always worried he will send himself into a seizure cluster.

He has his annual vet apt Monday morning and I was thinking about asking if there was anything more we could do for his Thunderstorm Anxiety. He is on Phenobarbital for the seizures, which I’m sure affects what he can be on. Any other ideas in the meantime? Or directions I should be looking? Or questions to ask the vet?

[macmtn]

Thundershirt

http://www.thundershirt.com

[jetsmom]

Before getting prescriptions that can have some side effects, try melatonin. Dosage is 1 MG per 20 lbs of dogs weight. It’s sold over the counter at grocery and drug stores where vitamins/sleep aids are, and is cheap. Side effects are extremely rare. Very safe.
Give at first sign of storm.

[roseymare]

Does he have a closet or other enclosed space he can hide in? With lots of cushy blankets? His own little storm fort.

[seeuatx]

[QUOTE=jetsmom;8672197]
Before getting pres riptiobs that can gave dome side effects, try melatonin. Dosage is 1 MG per 20 lbs of dogs weight. It’s sold over the counter at grocery and drug stores where vitamins/sleep aids are, and is cheap. Side effects are extremely rare. Very safe.
Give at first sign of storm.[/QUOTE]

I will look into this. Thanks for the idea

[seeuatx]

[QUOTE=roseymare;8672206]
Does he have a closet or other enclosed space he can hide in? With lots of cushy blankets? His own little storm fort.[/QUOTE]

He has a crate with blankets in it and a blanket over it since it’s just one of the wire ones. Sometimes he will go in it and self soothe. Usually not though.

[js]

Have you tried a Thunder Shirt? I would say it has mildly helped my Papillion, the bad thing is the Velcro is so sticky it makes noise getting it on and off and her hair gets stuck in it, so that doesn’t help when she’s in a panic. I have used the herbal remedies with some success but if you dog is on seizure medication you would need to check with the vet if it’s okay to use. Lately her anxiety has gotten really bad so we are giving a 1/4 tab of diazepam. It helps but I don’t like giving it.

[Magicboy]

I use a thunder shirt with one of my cirgis and it has greatly reduced his symptoms of agitation, trembling, hiding and even drooling. He’s still not relaxed but can sit in one place and not freak out.

The trick, I think, is to out the shirt on before the storm begins. The hugging of the shirt, the. Impression is quite helpful…short f like Temple Granfins work shows.

[seeuatx]

I’ve tried a Thunder Shirt. It seemed to help at first, but makes little to no difference now

[SC90]

Have you tried the new cannabis oil for dogs? You may not be able to use it because of other medications you are giving your dog, but it might be worth looking into.

I have a friend who is fostering a Boerboel that has severe separation anxiety. She tried the new cannabis oil for dogs, and it helped to settle him within 30 minutes.

Just a thought. It’s very new on the marketplace. I think there are only two vendors who make it right now and not many stores are carrying it yet.

[Romany]

Did you do the thundershirt up REALLY tightly? Apparently that helps. Also try using it on non thunderous occasions, and make much of your dog when you do.

[Countrywood]

Instead of trying to calm dog down during thunderstorm, give him stuff to do instead, esp as he is running around barking. Play ball in house, walk on leash through house, do a training session, train with treats etc. Get their attention away from storm and on something else. Playing music can help too or TV on mask storm sounds or white noise machine.

[Bicoastal]

I just entered the world of owner of dog with thunder phobia: Xanax (plus L-theanine, Thundershirt, DAP diffuser, radio playing, safe place in dark, quiet, interior room)

This requires the big guns.

[Lazy_Palomino_Hunter]

Have you tried a thunderstorm desensitization sound CD? I know several people who have had good luck with using them.

If the phobia is really bad, you can pair your desensitization training with medication from your vet.

[Arcadien]

I used to offer solutions to Thunder-phobic dogs with confidence something would help, until I took in my niece and her GSD. Niece tried to describe how crazy dog got, but I didn’t believe it. Tried all my usual solutions (including everything mentioned so far). This girl literally loses her mind in terror at first crack of thunder. She races around throwing herself into objects, it really becomes dangerous (for her and anything in her way).

It’s been a year since she’s been here, and coming in to Tstorm season again my only remaining solution is a) give Xanax soon as possible & b) erase any plans I had before Tstorm, as instead I will be sitting on floor holding shuddering dog in only remotely safe corner of house (which apparently is my upstairs shower) for duration of storm.

Never saw anything like it. Feel so bad for her, but we make it through, storm by storm.

Hopefully yours isn’t as bad as this!

[crosscreeksh]

[QUOTE=roseymare;8672206]
Does he have a closet or other enclosed space he can hide in? With lots of cushy blankets? His own little storm fort.[/QUOTE]

After 8-9 years of dealing with a LARGE Great Pyrenees who has terrible thunderstorm phobias…one day the coat closet door was left open and he went in there to hide from the storm!! TaDaaaaa!! He laid quietly through his first storm…now we just leave the door open…all the time. He will go in the closet 10-12 hours before the storms hit, but although he is anxious…he is much more settled. A sheltie dog we had years ago used to go into an interior, window-less bathroom. Apparently out of sight is out of mind!!

[PoeKnee]

crosscreeksh -
I think you’re right. Out of sight, out of mind. My pointer girl goes into my walk-in closet, which has no windows and a door which closes behind her. One storm she shimmied underneath my bedside table, then proceeded to stand up and pretty much wear the table as a turtle shell. This dog gets nervous and goes to ground even when people argue fairly quietly.