THUNDER/ STORMS FEAR
By Dr. Becker
Thunderstorms can strike fear in the heart of even the most normally laidback dog or cat. And what many pet parents don't realize is it's not just the loud clap of thunder that generates a fear response in phobic pets. Lightning, wind, rain, dark skies, changes in barometric pressure, and even odors can trigger a panicked reaction in susceptible dogs and cats.
Since dogs are naturally more demonstrative than cats and more apt to look to their owner for help, a dog's storm phobia symptoms are usually quite obvious. Common signs of phobia-related stress include dilated pupils, drooling, rapid heartbeat, panting, pacing, trembling, potty accidents, and destructive behavior.
Your cat, on the other hand, may simply scoot quietly under the bed or head for another protected spot in your home.
Fear of storms in pets is no laughing matter. In a study of storm-phobic dogs, their plasma cortisol levels jumped over 200 percent from exposure to an audio recording of a storm. And even though we can't scientifically evaluate the emotions of sensitive pets during a thunderstorm, we can safely assume they feel fear and perhaps even terror.
Storm phobia causes extreme anxiety and discomfort not only for four-legged companions, but also for human family members who feel helpless to ease their pet's suffering. If your pet is afraid of storms, don't lose hope. There are things you can do to help your furry friend remain calm when the weather outside is frightful.
Create a Safe Place Where Your Pet Can Go to Avoid the Storm
For dogs, your basement may be just the ticket, or alternatively, a room with sound-proofing wallboard and heavy window coverings. Your dog's safe place should ideally have small covered windows or no windows so he can't see the storm. In the space you set aside, add a solid-sided crate, and leave the door open. The crate should contain food, water, treats, and toys. When you know a storm is approaching, turn on the lights in the room so lightning flashes will be less obvious.
Play calming music (MusicMyPet.com, PetMusic.com) in your pet's safe spot at a volume just loud enough to drown out distant thunderclaps.
Make sure to spend time playing with your dog in his safe room when it's not storming, and then see if he'll go there on his own when he senses a storm is on the way. Your pet should have access to his safe spot at all times, and especially when you're not at home.
Behavior Modification, Desensitization, and Counterconditioning
One behavior modification technique that may work for a storm phobic dog is to engage him in a behavior that earns a reward. Ask your dog to perform a command or trick he knows and reward him if he does. This activity distracts not only him, but also you, in case you're tempted to inadvertently reinforce his phobic behavior by petting and soothing him while he's showing anxiety.
Another behavior modification you can try involves engaging your dog in a fun activity. Play a game with him, or give him a treat release toy or recreational bone to chew on. One of my favorite ways to distract dogs is with nose work. Use your dog's natural senses to divert his attention, or have fun with Dr. Yin's Manners Minder. Just keep in mind that if your dog's fear response to storms is intense, you may not always be able to soothe him with food rewards or other distractions.
Desensitization involves using a CD with recorded storm sounds to try to desensitize your dog. This is best done during times of the year when real storms are few and far between.
Unfortunately, desensitization isn't always as effective with storm phobias as it is with other types of anxiety disorders. That's because it's difficult to mimic all the various triggers that set off a fear response in a storm-phobic pet – in particular changes in barometric pressure, static electricity, and whatever scents they notice with an impending change in the weather. In addition, desensitization has to be done in each room of the house, because a new coping skill learned in the living room will be forgotten in the kitchen. These problems make desensitization more of a challenge in treating storm phobias.
Counterconditioning involves consistently and repeatedly pairing a negative trigger with a positive one, until your pet makes a positive association. For example, if your dog exhibits a fear response each time she hears a thunderclap, offer her a treat each time it happens. The goal is to condition her to associate a treat with the sound of thunder.
Additional Storm Stress Relief Tools for Pets
Try putting gentle, continuous pressure on your pet to calm her. If
she will allow it, try leaning gently on or against her without petting
or stroking. If this is helpful to her, you'll feel her muscles begin
to relax. If instead she seems to grow more anxious, stop the activity.
If your pet does seems to respond well to pressure applied to her body,
there are wraps available (Thundershirt.com, Anxietywrap.com, Stormdefender.com)
that many pet owners and veterinarians have found extremely helpful.
You might also consider a ThunderCap.
Ttouch is a specific massage technique that can help anxious pets.
You can also consider trying EFT to help your four-legged companion.
Invest in a pheromone diffuser. Species-specific pheromones are chemical
substances that can positively affect an animal's emotional state and
behavior. There's the D.A.P. diffuser for dogs and Feliway for kitties.
Consult a holistic veterinarian about homeopathic, TCM (Traditional
Chinese Medicine) and Bach Flower Remedies that could be helpful in
alleviating your pet's stress. Some products I use, always in conjunction
with behavior modification, include Calm Shen, homeopathic aconitum
or Hyland's Calms Forte, Bach Rescue Remedy, or other similar remedies
depending on the animal, Spirit Essence Storm Soother, and OptiBalance
Fear & Phobias Formula.
Calming nutraceuticals and herbs that I've found helpful include holy
basil, l-theanine, rhodiola, ashwagandha, GABA, 5-HTP, and chamomile.
Consult your holistic vet about which option is right for your pet.
The essential oil of lavender has also been proven to reduce a pet's
stress response. I recommend placing a few drops on your dog's collar
or bedding before a stressor occurs, if possible, or diffuse the oil
around your house for an overall calming effect.
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CPR IN A DOG
Timidity and Fears
By petting and reassuring you dog if it is fearful you are actually sending the wrong message. This signal is saying if you are fearful I will reward you and therefore confirm there is somthing to fear. The very thing you are trying to cure is reinforced by your actions. The shy / timid dog should be exposed to as many different situations as possible. In fact you need to desensatise the very things it fears, crom cutting nails to being afraid of something/situatuon. If the dog is spooked and backs off dont fuss it and encourage it as it is going to get the message it is doing the right thing. Be firm, be calm and take the dog into the situatiuon often. Do NOT cuddle the dog, or hug it and tell it there is nothing to fear. Dogs do not understand most of the words we say -- they understand our actions. If the dog gets a hug, it assumes it has done the correct thing and will continue to be fearful. because you have reinforced the fear. It works trust me.
Urine Burning the Lawn
Car Sickness
Often Ginger helps with this problem either Ginger Biscuits or even better natural ginger fed before the journey. The biscuits can be fed as the dog gets in the car, which has an added incentive of the dog feeling that it being praised for just getting in the vehicle.
We all know how unsightly yellow spots on the lawn are and that this is normally caused by bitche's urine. Waste products from Nitrogen are the result of protein breakdown through the normal bodily process, therefore it is this that causes the lawn spots. Nitrogen is a great fertliser but not in strong doses that is why the outside of the brown spot is usually quite lush.
Solve the problem
- To reduce the Nitrogen imbalance a dose of one teaspoon to one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (depending on the size of the dog) per day should solve the problem. The apple cider vinegar natural type from a health food store can be added to the dog's water or put directly on his food. Not the pasteurised version from the supermarket. Apple cider vinegar from farm shops is the best. Two tablespoons of tomato juice on the dog's food twice a day will have the same effect.
If the dog has already urinated and she has not been treated, then saturate the urinated areas (spots) with water. This will allow the excess nitrogen to leech or dilute through the lawn and reduce the concentration in one area. It is usually best to treat the areas up to 9 hours after urination and to apply at least three times the amount of water to urine to the area.
There is also something called DOG ROCKS and can be found on ebay.
DOG ROCKS
100% NATURAL MINERALS JUST PLACE THE ROCKS IN YOUR DOGS WATER BOWL AND THEY WILL HELP TO STOP NASTY BURN PATCHES ON YOUR LAWN CAUSED BY YOUR LOVING PET TAKING A PEE! - DOG ROCKS SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY 2 MONTHS
These are a that is apparently safe for all of your dogs, young and old. It is supposed to start improving your lawn within 5 weeks. They normally need to be replaced about every 2 or 3 months and should be placed into no more than 2 litres (0.5 gal) of water. Dog rocks are a mineralised rock which when placed in a dog’s water bowl changes the Nitrogen levels of a dog’s urine, meaning it won’t stain grass. The key element is Zeolite, which neutralises Nitrogen levels without altering the pH level of the water