| Thunder and other load bangs can cause some dogs | | | | There are a few flower remedies with the common |
| severe distress. Using some simple dog obedience | | | | remedies being: Rescue Remedy, Calming Essence or |
| training methods and perhaps some drugs or herbs | | | | Five Flower Formula. |
| we can desensitise dogs. | | | | All are made from a selection of flowers. Try one |
| Using Drugs | | | | remedy at a time and see which works better. |
| Relaxing an anxious dog by using certain drugs is | | | | If none work then you might try single flower |
| straight forward and is fairly common. | | | | remedies such as Limulus, or Rock Rose. |
| Your standard vets drug of choice is one that comes | | | | Music Therapy |
| from the benzodiazepine family, an anxiolytic drug. | | | | The research done on this therapy indicates that |
| This drug is usually only available with a prescription. | | | | playing live harp music worked to calm affected dogs |
| The drug is distributed under several names and the | | | | in over 95% of cases. |
| following are the more common brands: | | | | Playing recorded harp music was effective in over |
| Alprazolam (Xanax)(Xanax XR)( Nirvam), Diazepam | | | | 87% of cases. |
| (Valium)(Diastat), Clonazepam (Klonopin), Lorazepam | | | | I could not find any reference to a particular |
| (Ativan), Flurazepam (Dalmane). | | | | recording so I guess you may need to buy a few |
| The side effects of using these drugs will be | | | | CDs and see if any work for your dog. |
| discussed by your vet, and the dangers of exceeding | | | | Body Wraps |
| recommended dosage and duration of treatments | | | | Body wraps are made from elasticised material and |
| needs to be carefully noted. | | | | Velcro and are designed to fit tightly around the dogs |
| They are all addictive and will lead to with drawl | | | | shoulders and torso and, supposedly, produces a |
| issues if given for periods longer than advised by | | | | feeling of security and calmness in the dog. |
| your vet. Your dog may experience extreme mood | | | | Anxiety Wrap and Thunder Shirt are 2 designs that I |
| swings and you need to be wary of being bitten by | | | | am aware of, but there are probably more designs |
| a dog suffering from these symptoms. | | | | out there. |
| There is another drug, a member of the tricyclics | | | | Behaviour Modification |
| antidepressant (TCA) chemical class, usage of which | | | | The use of crate training, positive rewards, |
| is becoming more common. It is Clomipramine | | | | desensitization, and calming reassurance are all |
| (Anafranil). The veterinary name for this drug is | | | | techniques that, with or without drug or natural |
| Clomicalm, and is used for both antidepressant and | | | | medicines, can go a long way to helping you cure |
| anxiolytic treatments, including panic attacks. | | | | most noise phobias. |
| If you are on good terms with your vet, ask him to | | | | Whilst you are working on behaviour modification, |
| prescribe the human variety of this drug as it costs a | | | | you need to practice consistency and patience, and |
| lot less than the vet product. | | | | you may need to combine this with some natural or |
| Natural and Homeopathic treatments | | | | holistic remedies, or maybe even one of the above |
| There is an over the counter hormone used by | | | | noted drugs. |
| people for insomnia treatment which has shown | | | | To help modify the dogs behaviour you can use |
| promising results for treatment of noise phobia in | | | | crate training and the click and treat or positive |
| animals. This is Melatonin. | | | | reward system along with dog obedience training |
| Most health shops and pharmacies stock melatonin. | | | | methods. |
| As production of melatonin is not controlled, quality | | | | Desensitization therapy involves the introduction of |
| can vary. Holistic stores or holistic vets often stock a | | | | taped storm noises under controlled conditions and |
| higher quality product. | | | | gradually increasing the noise level until the dog can |
| Phosphorous PHUS 30C, available in health stores has | | | | happily ignore the reason for his anxiety. |
| been found to relieve stress in some dogs and is | | | | Using calming reassurance methods such as brushing |
| available from most good health and homeopathic | | | | the dog with long, slow, light brush strokes from |
| shops. | | | | head to tail during the storm will settle and calm the |
| The fact that you should not touch this compound | | | | dog. |
| with your fingers worries me. You should talk to the | | | | The above ways ways of alleviating your dogs noise |
| dispensing health store or homeopathic store owner | | | | phobias are just some of the methods that are |
| to ensure you feel happy about the use of this | | | | currently being used. |
| chemical. | | | | By using the least intrusive options first, such as dog |
| I have however been assured by homeopathy | | | | obedience training methods, along with flower |
| practitioners that it is safe for your dog and has no | | | | remedies, and then working up to the drugs therapy, |
| side effects. | | | | you will be able to work out the level where your |
| Aconitum Napellus 30C is another homeopathic | | | | dog begins to respond and he begins to relax during |
| treatment and it is administered in the same way as | | | | major thunder storms, and noise phobias will become |
| the Phosphorous treatment. | | | | a thing of the past. |
| Flower Remedies | | | | |