Jump to content

Dog owners, any advice on a dog suddenly afraid of thunder?


SeaDawg

Recommended Posts

  • Moderators

IMG_20180516_170522620_HDR.thumb.jpg.8915221665b9ca6631c49d124467fcfa.jpg

 

Our little dog Livvy has suddenly become terrified of thunder. She's almost four, and no fear of anything until recently.

 

She has started to shake with every tiny rumble in the distance, and pant even being held tightly on my chest. Yesterday,  we were at a neighborhood  party down the mountain for a cookout, and came home to find her burrowed under the bedding and pillows. Tonight, we were home, so she is more consoled when the evening storm started. She's much worse here in the camper than at home.

 

I've read about thunder shirts.  Has anyone actually  tried one with success? Any other ideas or advice?

 

Thanks in advance from Livvy, who normally loves camping...

 

Sherry

 

 

IMG_20180605_172003061_TOP7.thumb.jpg.18c57926040e95502e7a1a2d92087516.jpg

2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4

2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12

Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes....

400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries .  Life is good.


        
 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A thundershirt is worth a try, it made a marginal improvement on our Labradoodle Zadie’s “sudden onset” travel anxiety. It had no effect on Zack’s trailer “furnace fan fear”. I think it would be a good first step. Make sure the size is correct, it must fit very snugly to apply chest compression.

 

Over the counter Benedryl also works, it makes them drowsy, but check with your vet first about dosage for such a small dog. If the thundershirt doesn’t work, try this, then progress to a prescription sedative med.

 

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/benadryl-for-dogs/

 

Good luck, anxious dogs are hard on everybody, including your pet. Not to be negative, but once a dog gets this way it usually won’t go away, all you can do is try to manage it. We travel less with our dogs now, because they are frankly much happier at home with our daughter as house sitter. And we are happier without freaked out animals.

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

 

 

 

 

  • Thanks 2

SOLD 07/23 "Mouse":  2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/john-e-davies-how-to-threads-and-tech-articles-links/

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh dear. My greatest mistake with our poor shepherd was thinking the big guy would get a kick out of watching fireworks. Every 4th after that the entire night was dedicated to pup. I wish he’d have buried himself under pillows. Instead he chose to rip them up. Did you know that down will expand to fill whatever space it’s given?

 

Sorry, I’m no help other than moral support. Interested in any that others have to offer though.

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Coincidentally, my 4-year old Labradoodle recently began showing subtle signs of nervousness when it is thundering.  My neighbor uses an herbal remedy so I tried it with her & there is great improvement. She's simply chill. I got these on Amazon. 20180904_221142.thumb.jpg.d8bf8e3e3b186cdc3c5850bb1e1888e5.jpg

20180904_221058.thumb.jpg.eaf53743d29133d23358e1a1a35f4afd.jpg

  • Thanks 3
Chris & Duke Chadwell
🐾Maddie & Baxter🐾
Elite II Hull 292
2022 F-250 Lariat 7.3 Godzilla 4x4 Lakeland,FL
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Coincidentally, my 4-year old Labradoodle recently began showing subtle signs of nervousness when it is thundering.  My neighbor uses an herbal remedy so I tried it with her & there is great improvement. She's simply chill. I got these on Amazon. 20180904_2211421.thumb.jpg.dec2a2d8bbcf074e2c7516bb7a61c5c3.jpg

20180904_2210581.thumb.jpg.44b5ef5c3cbfb30f8d7bdcda8c3f7755.jpg

Chris & Duke Chadwell
🐾Maddie & Baxter🐾
Elite II Hull 292
2022 F-250 Lariat 7.3 Godzilla 4x4 Lakeland,FL
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

Thanks, folks, I'll give the thunder shirt a try. I've seen the display in our vets office, but Liv used to be intrepid.  She still doesn't know she's only nine pounds. She is only consoled by a tight grip, and closeness.

 

Shallowgal, l will check out the herbal. Summer thunderstorm season is a regular thing in Florida,  but she goes into one of her safe places, or jumps in a lap, and she's good.  Here, it's way different,  suddenly.

 

She's been camping since she was a tiny pup of four months. The Oliver is her second home, as it is ours.I'm struggling to figure out the sudden change.

 

Thanks again.

 

Sherry

2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4

2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12

Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes....

400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries .  Life is good.


        
 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

John,

 

We used to give our cockapoo children's oral benadryl for his seizures. It did seem to help. Thanks for that idea. But, she is really  little.

 

I'll check with our vet when we get home.

2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4

2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12

Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes....

400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries .  Life is good.


        
 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I’m struggling to figure out the sudden change.

Sherry, the dogs (and the husband) slept through Irma while our little 1920s bungalow rattled & Mother Nature flashed & banged for hours. About four months ago, a sudden zap with a simultaneous loud KAPOW startled us all & from then on, Maddie has gone under the bed during storms.

Chris & Duke Chadwell
🐾Maddie & Baxter🐾
Elite II Hull 292
2022 F-250 Lariat 7.3 Godzilla 4x4 Lakeland,FL
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm sorry to see this, it  makes life with our furry  friends tough sometimes.  One trick used to condition pups to the sound of  gunshot  is a loud noise, usually a blank shell, activated at feeding. Perhaps a graduated conditioning with older pets would represent a similar effect.  Doesn't have to be a gunshot, a recorded approximate sound.

 

My Chessie, thinks a loud crackling noise is a call to arms - seems the DNA takes over - he looks up - as if a duck or goose is supposed to fall from the sky.  he also doesn't know he is 95 lbs., he thinks he is a toy poodle in this respect.

  • Thanks 3

Cindy,  Russell and  "Harley dog" . Home is our little farm near Winchester TN

2018 Oliver Legacy Elite II - 2018 GMC 2500 Duramax 

"Die young - As late as possible"
ALAZARCACOFLIDMTNVNMOKORTNTXUTWAWYd56201

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Zesty Paws product looks interesting. It must be given regularly, not just before a stressful event. That can really add up if your dog is large. To treat my two 40 lb dogs (2 tabs daily, each) would use up a bottle in three weeks. At $30 per 90, that is going to get very costly. Unless they offer a higher dose product?

 

The primary ingredient is hemp, this article is informative. I thought hemp was no longer grown in the USA, but I was very wrong.

 

https://ministryofhemp.com/hemp/legal/

 

OTC generic Benadryl is practically free in comparison, plus humans can take it for allergies. I would definitely try that first.

 

600 tablets for $10..... https://www.amazon.com/Diphenhydramine-Medicine-Antihistamine-Ingredient-Benadryl/dp/B0077SVM4G/ref=sr_1_11_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1536157552&sr=1-11&keywords=Benadryl+generic+tabs

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

SOLD 07/23 "Mouse":  2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/john-e-davies-how-to-threads-and-tech-articles-links/

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

John, you are right, they would be costly if I gave her two a day. Even though the directions "recommend" treating daily,  I never have. I toss her one or two based on what I see rolling in & get the results claimed.

 

Happy T®ails!

 

Chris

  • Thanks 2
Chris & Duke Chadwell
🐾Maddie & Baxter🐾
Elite II Hull 292
2022 F-250 Lariat 7.3 Godzilla 4x4 Lakeland,FL
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderator+

The correct dosage of diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for dogs is 1 mg/pound. I recommend buying liquid diphenhydramine to be able to accurately administer the dose for smaller pets.

 

Although a larger bottle (greater than 100 dosage units) may seem like the best deal, they will probably go out of date long before they are all used.

 

Just an old retired Pharmacist’s advice.

  • Thanks 2

Steve, Tali and our dog Rocky plus our beloved Storm, Maggie, Lucy and Reacher (all waiting at the Rainbow Bridge)

2008 Legacy Elite I - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #026 | 2014 Legacy Elite II - Outlaw Oliver, Hull #050 | 2022 Silverado High Country 3500HD SRW Diesel 4x4 

 

             801469912_StatesVisitedTaliandSteve08-23-2021-I.jpg.26814499292ab76ee55b889b69ad3ef0.jpg1226003278_StatesVisitedTaliandSteve08-23-2021-H.jpg.dc46129cb4967a7fd2531b16699e9e45.jpg

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Although a larger bottle (greater than 100 dosage units) may seem like the best deal, they will probably go out of date long before they are all used.

 

Just an old retired Pharmacist’s advice.

Since you are retired, and no longer have to follow legal dispensing guidelines, maybe you can comment with a good conscience about this article.  ....https://www.propublica.org/article/the-myth-of-drug-expiration-dates

 

I have no moral or physical problems taking long expired pills for minor ailments. I can understand why epipens or insulin should get scrapped because they treat life threatening conditions. I am not going to toss a bottle of out-of-date acetaminophen, allergy tabs or Viagra until I notice that they no longer work.

 

The big pharmacutical companies and the retired politicians they hire to lobby for them are not on the side of the consumer. Their one purpose is profit. I would apprciate hearing your thoughts.

 

Thanks.

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

  • Thanks 1

SOLD 07/23 "Mouse":  2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/john-e-davies-how-to-threads-and-tech-articles-links/

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The big pharmacutical companies and the retired politicians they hire to lobby for them are not on the side of the consumer. Their one purpose is profit.

John, I really appreciate the article. I too have wrestled with this issue, not only with pharm, but the dreaded,  my crackers exceed their use by date! It is my opinion, the vast number of drugs (and food) discarded due to a subjective timeline is in large part a manifestation of our sue happy culture. Common sense would led one to do otherwise most of the time.

 

However, I am not trained in pharmacological products, and sometimes wonder, well maybe they know what their talking about, verses food, where most of us can figure that one out.  I often thought it was  percentage of effectiveness when it came to the drugs we use, but wasn't sure. Unless time somehow can transform the original molecular form, and turn into some other life threatening compound, one would think the worst case was it doesn't work as well.

 

The quip about Viagra, seems one can figure that out...  amusing.

 

Don't ask a major food store about their policy, you will lose your mind.

Cindy,  Russell and  "Harley dog" . Home is our little farm near Winchester TN

2018 Oliver Legacy Elite II - 2018 GMC 2500 Duramax 

"Die young - As late as possible"
ALAZARCACOFLIDMTNVNMOKORTNTXUTWAWYd56201

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

One of my best friends was a biochemist and patent writer for Scripps pharmaceuticals and said along with my doctor in camp one day, that pills encased in a coating will last forever as long as they are kept out of moist environments. They both say that the expiration dates are there just to make a bigger profit. He said that they will still be the same powdered form encased pill in perfect shape 20 years down the road.

 

Reed

  • Thanks 1

Happy Camping,


null


Reed & Karen Lukens with Riffles our Miniature Poodle


2017 Oliver Legacy Elite II  Standard, Hull #200 / 2017 Silverado High Country 1500 Short Bed 4x4


Past TV - 2012 Mercedes-Benz ML350 4Matic BlueTEC Diesel


Click on our avatar pic above to find the videos on our Oliver Legacy Elite II


 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

For your dog, please make sure to use a pure benadryl or generic. Not a cough medicine with acetaminophen or sudafedrin or ibuprofen... andi get the children's  formula,  so it doesn't have achohol.

 

Many human medications are used for dogs, but some of them are toxic to them. As I recall, many of our otc pain relievers, and especially  ibuprofen.

 

I've read that some medications do truly degrade over time. I always check mom's nitroglycerin,  as I was told by her cardiologist that it was useless after a year.  Others, not so much.

 

Personally,  I have no problem with any expired allergy med or ibuprofen,  but that's not a recommendation from me, either....

 

Sherry

  • Thanks 1

2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4

2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12

Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes....

400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries .  Life is good.


        
 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I appreciate the detour taken on this thread via the fascinating article on the myth of drug expiration dates. It seems to have lead to the heart of a widespread and major problem in this country. I will probably post the article on my Facebook page. I am eager to read ScubaRx's response for sure.

 

I am no retired pharmacist, but did anyone notice what seems to be a repeated typo in the article? The repetition starts with this: "Berkowitz picks up a box of sodium bicarbonate, which is crucial for heart surgery and to treat certain overdoses. It’s being rationed because there’s so little available."

 

I just checked on Amazon, and you can get 27 lbs of sodium bicarbonate for under $13. Is it that the sodium bicarbonate mentioned a number of times in the article is somehow superior to the baking soda distributed by Arm & Hammer?

 

 

Onward through the Fog!


EarthPicks of Cochise County


AZCACOKSMONVNMORTNTXUTmed.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The same, but different. They’re talking about injectable bicarbonate, which is I think still in limited supply. Too much consolidation in the drug industry means too few suppliers for even basic medicines, so problems at a single plant can cause major shortages. Here’s an article about it - https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/21/health/sodium-bicarbonate-solution-critical-shortage-hospitals.html

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 9 months later...
  • Moderators

We got a Thundershirt for our dog. Our vet's wife made sure we got the proper size, and showed me how to wrap it properly. It has really helped with the thunder and lightning anxiety. This will be the first 4th with her new duds, so we'll have to see how that goes with the fireworks.

Thanks for all the advice and comments, folks.

  • Thanks 1

2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4

2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12

Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes....

400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries .  Life is good.


        
 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

Good luck today and with the future thunderstorms we get this time of the year.  As a past owner of a noise reactive dog, I feel you pain.  It is a helpless feeling watching you baby shake in terror and you are nearly powerless to do anything.

 

Mike

  • Thanks 1

Mike and Krunch   Lutz, FL  
2017 LEII #193 “the dog house”

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

Thanks! It's thundering now. Instead of running off to hide, or climbing all over me, she's chilling on the sofa.

It does make a difference.

Sherry

 

20190704_121855.thumb.jpg.c20f57a18d9b7e60408fdeca9bc0615b.jpg

 

 

2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4

2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12

Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes....

400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries .  Life is good.


        
 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Moderators

I’m glad to hear the Thundershirt is working for Livvy.  Hope you have a peaceful night of fireworks.  They have already started in Lutz.

 

Mike

Mike and Krunch   Lutz, FL  
2017 LEII #193 “the dog house”

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Greetings:

 

Here is one more possible solution I have used with my dogs at different developmental stages in their lives and for different reasons - Classical conditioning method by Victoria Stilwell. She has a DVD series I have found very helpful. It is titled "Canine Phobia Series." It covers from thunderstorms, fireworks, city sounds and calming. This series is for the treatment and prevention of anxiety in dogs.

 

We traveled with our dogs from a GSD to a Maltese! We compete in Rally, Nosework, and Obedience. We are certified Karen Prior Academy Dog Trainers. We are presently working with a rescued GSD who has a few challenges and we are grateful for all he reminds us everyday.

 

Blessings for all of your journeys and hope this is helpful.

Mirna.

  • Thanks 2

R2W

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Google around for "gun dog" training.  It works similarly with thunder (another loud noise).  One of the biggest takeaways is don't pity/baby your dog during thunder.  Put them to work on an activity they enjoy with treats instead. You're reprogramming them to think thunder = play/work time with treats.

Between Olivers…

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...