There are breeds of dogs who don’t seem to mind anything at all. Then again, there are breeds that will flip out at the first sign of thunder. Is your dog afraid of loud noises? If so, here are some tips to help you deal.
The Causes
Loud sounds can run the gamut from a moderate thunderstorm to 4th of July fireworks to cars backfiring. Some breeds, like Labradors, find sounds like these cacophonous. Their ears are much more sensitive than a human’s or even a different breed of dog.
You’ll know if your pup is upset by the loud sounds if he/she starts running around the house wildly. Some dogs will become very clingy even if they’re not naturally that way, and still others will want to seem to crawl inside you and hide.
What To Do
This isn’t a condition that will fade with age. Rather, it tends to get worse as a dog gets older. And the cause is fear — plain and simple.
There are a couple of things you can do to help your dog when there’s a thunderstorm or other predictable loud noises. One of those is a medication called Acepromazine. In short, it’s a doggy tranquilizer.
It’s prescribed by your veterinarian and can be given in various dosage amounts. For thunderstorms, the recommendation is to try to get the medication into your dog’s system at least two hours before the storm. We know someone whose black lab was so afraid of thunder storms that she dosed him up before a severe hurricane and he slept through most of it.
If you’re not comfortable giving your dog medication, try the Thundershirt. This is a marvelous product that helps any dog, big or small, with fear of loud noises. It’s a coat that fits around your dog snugly and makes them feel as though you’re holding them — sometimes all a dog needs is that kind of comfort. The Thundershirt is secured with Velcro closings and made with spandex so it fits snugly but comfortably.
Photo Credit: istockphoto.com
