General Discussion

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

calliecritturs — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:01:43 GMT

BlackLabbie:
If they don't have it, will Petco or Petsmart sell Hylands Calms?

No Whole Foods carries a TON of Hylands products but you won't find it at Pet*ANYTHING* -- it's marketed for human use ... works great on dogs but they never sell stuff like that in pet stores (because then people get funny about using something on themselves that they saw in a pet store).

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

BEVOLASVEGAS — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:35:44 GMT

We use a Storm Defender Cape on Chyna. I was quite skeptical about it actually working, but after trying to desensitize her, (she didn't care about thunderstorm cd's, but still reacted badly to actual storms) and drugging her to try to keep her calm, I decided that it was worth a try. Now, if there is rain in the forecast, she wears her cape. She is still more aware of the storm than my other dogs are, but she isn't panting, trying to hide under the couch, or chewing a door to get to me.

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

BlackLabbie — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 03:19:53 GMT

calliecritturs:

Like I said -- try and at least find some valerian (a lot of grocery stores carry it - give him 2 capsules) -- but that takes almost an hour to work. And if you can find Hylands Calms -- again at the same time give him 2 tablets -- it will help dial him back a bit --

I will look for valerian tomorrow (I have to get a few things at the grocery store, I'm going to Whole Foods). If they don't have it, will Petco or Petsmart sell Hylands Calms? I can run there tomorrow, too. I feel so bad for poor Molson! He was hanging on OK for all of June w/ all the t-storms, but man, that last big storm I feel like was too much for him and now w/ the fireworks...poor guy.

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

calliecritturs — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 02:48:37 GMT

Like I said -- try and at least find some valerian (a lot of grocery stores carry it - give him 2 capsules) -- but that takes almost an hour to work. And if you can find Hylands Calms -- again at the same time give him 2 tablets -- it will help dial him back a bit --

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

BlackLabbie — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:55:45 GMT

Well, I didn't make it to the vet, so he'll be at my friends house tomorrow. We're going over there tomorrow afternoon for a cook out, her neighborhood is pretty quiet, lots of seniors and some new families w/ babies- fireworks aren't allowed there. So, when we leave to come to the beach (where DH and I live) to watch the fireworks/bonfires, we're going to leave Molson and Patty there. Apollo's coming with us because he isn't bothered by the fireworks (he's come w/ us every year so far). So, at least Molson will have Patty there and my friends Lab and they'll be in a quiet neighborhood.

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

loretta — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 23:51:24 GMT

If I give melatonin, how much would I give? My dog is REALLY upset with these Florida thunderstorms and now the fireworks are beginning. I have tried Valerian and Xanax. Neither worked.

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

calliecritturs — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 20:05:51 GMT

I would think the vet would just give you one dose of something specifically knowing it was for the 4th and to avoid trauma -- I wouldn't *think* a visit would be all that necessary. Whatever would be least stressful -- which I would think would be home, but then again do what you have to do.

It all depends on how folks celebrate the 4th -- down here there are fireworks all over and up home (in western NY state) people simply fire guns to make noise.

I would take the most conservative steps you can to make sure Molson doesn't have to freak out. Even if you take him somewhere else, I'd give him valerian tincture (a *full* dropperful) and probably two Hylands Calms tablets before you drop him off and hopefully he won't be traumatized.

Just don't be nervous YOURSELF. That's critical -- if he thinks there IS something to be afraid *of* then he'll be completely freaked.

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

BlackLabbie — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:20:59 GMT

calliecritturs:

To be honest I would call the vet early tomorrow and get a sedative for Molson -- I'd either change my plans to be with him or sedate him. He's going to be terrified.

I know, Jeremy and I were talking about it and I think I'm going to bring him to my friends house while we're out. She lives about 45 mins away from where the fireworks are going to be, that should be OK- right? She has a dog, too (yellow Lab) and they both get along very well, but both will be crated. Or should I bring him to the vet? I'm sure I can get him in tomorrow (they're not open this weekend).

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

calliecritturs — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 01:52:08 GMT

To be honest I would call the vet early tomorrow and get a sedative for Molson -- I'd either change my plans to be with him or sedate him. He's going to be terrified.

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

BlackLabbie — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 19:17:15 GMT

You know what else sucks? 4th of July is right around the corner, and we live right on the beach fireworks are set off....IDK what he's going to be like then- we're not going to be home.

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

calliecritturs — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:35:45 GMT

Your **best** desensitization is done DURING the storm. It's not just the sound and typically just sound-related training doesn't work well because it's the electromagnetics that occur in the air during the storm that freak them even more.

I typed this out for someone the other day - http://forum.dog.com/forums/p/95777/764820.aspx#764820

You'll have to be prepared in the bedroom for this -- make a bag of goodies and stash them in a drawer near the bed so you can take advantage of the very next storm. It's NOT too late -- Foxy was more terrified than that (and he was older).

this is a training issue, but typically it works way easier as I indicated in the link to use something of a calmative or relaxant during the first conditioning just because you want to get TO the brain thru all the layers of animal inate behavior and reaction. Valerian tincture is fast -- but give it to him a few times NOT in a stress situation so you know how he'll react and so he learns to like the taste (the non-alcohol one is pretty sweet and my dogs think it's yummy -- *I* think it smells horrible but I'm not gonna tell them that!!)

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

Liesje — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:57:40 GMT

Yeah I would try to desensitize as much as possible, and maybe use some melatonin or something during a real bad storm so that it doesn't set you back again.

Re: PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

espencer — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:37:52 GMT

Buy one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/Sounds-Thunder-Sea-Various-Artists/dp/B000021YKG/ref=pd_sim_m_3

Start with the lowest volume and play it while you use treats, do not "baby him" because you will be nurturing the fear instead of curing it. Thunder plays, food comes. Increase the volume after a few days when you see that he is comfortable and repeat.

PETRIFIED of thunderstorms- help!

BlackLabbie — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:06:49 GMT

The entire month of June and the begining of July all we've had is rain/overcast and thunderstorms. The dogs, for the most part, have been fine. I know Molson is a little concernced with the t-storms, but he hasn't done anything extreme (like hiding, shaking, etc). Apollo and Patty don't care of the storms- they sleep through 'em.

This morning I woke up to a BOOM of thunder. It shook the house. Apollo was still sleeping (lol), Patty was awake, and Molson....was under the bed as close the the wall as he could get. Poor guy. I got up and went to the bathroom (ignored Molson) I figured he'd come out. Nope. I tried to coax him out with some food (chicken), nope. He wouldn't budge. I had to get him (and Patty and Apollo) out to potty, so, I moved the bed and picked up him and carried him out to the kitchen (if I put him down he would try to bolt back under the bed). He was shaking so bad. I felt terrible. He peed/pooped so quickly, and I brought him back to the house ASAP. Since this morning, it has stopped raining/storming, and he's been napping in his crate (the door's open).

I think this t-storm was the straw that broke the camel's back, so to speak.

Is there anything I can do for him?