-
The Calm After the Storm
Just wanted to share this pic with you. Bean, the dog in the middle, just went through an upsetting thunderstorm. Normally, she doesn’t snuggle close to other dogs, but she purposefully wedged herself between our sweet guests, Bailey and Lucy, after the storm passed. I think that close contact gave her some physical comfort.
I keep medication on hand for her when thunder is expected but, despite careful monitoring, I am frequently surprised by the storm arriving way earlier than forecast, at which point giving her meds is too late.What do you find helpful for your storm-sensitive pup?
-
13 Replies
-
I have found CBD helps sometimes but there again you have to give it enough in advance for it to have the best results
-
Good to know, @Cory . Do you like a particular brand?
-
-
Mal, our ACD/husky mix, was terrified of storms. He was perfectly fine with them when he was young, but we moved and bought a home with a leaky roof. My anxiety over the leaky roof led to him getting bad storm anxiety that stayed with him for the rest of his life. He was on a CBD supplement daily for joint health, but it didn’t touch his storm anxiety. We tried prescription meds from his vet, but it made him lethargic and anorexic for days.
Instead, I checked the overnight forecast every day for the chance of thunderstorms. Mal was only comforted by having me downstairs in the guest room, playing Through a Dog’s Ear piano music, having a little light on to hide any lightning flashes, and snuggling up next to me on the floor.
If we had a pop up storm, Mal would either wake me up by smooshing himself behind the headboard of our bed or pacing downstairs so I’d come join him in the guest room. He was a BIG Mama’s boy, so if I was home, he would not settle in without me. We spent many nights snuggled up like this by a camping lantern, and I actually enjoyed it as he usually had bad body handling problems and I could hold and snuggle him for his comfort during storms.
-
Awwww, it’s so nice when the dog finds comfort in the loving arms of his mama, @PerpetualCleric ! ????
I wish snuggles helped Bean, but she’s not a snuggly dog by nature. Instead, I apply a firm hand of pressure on her little body and that seems to help.
I’ve tried a variety of meds, separately and some combos. None work if I don’t get them into her body well ahead of the storm except for one combo. But those meds energize her in a weird way and cause her to seek food voraciously. She’ll do things that I normally never see her do, like popping up onto a table in search of goodies. I’m currently experimenting with clonodine.What meds have you tried with Mal?
What happens if a storm comes and you’re not home?-
We tried Sileo, trazadone, and Ativan over the years with Mal. He would still panic then be zonked out for days afterwards.
In case of storms when we weren’t home, we would leave him a little safety nest in the guest room. Dog bed in a tight point of the room, favorite comfort blanket, his comfort teddy, left calm music on, light on.
-
I’m glad he was able to handle the alone-time in his specially outfitted room.
I’ve been thinking about asking my vet about Sileo, but I hate that it has such a short shelf life.
-
Sileo was pretty pricey when we tried it with Mal 4 years ago, too. Granted, he was a 90# stubborn husky mix.
-
Yeah, at least I only have to medicate an 8 lb dog !
-
-
-
-
-
-
OMD I love these photos! Storm anxiety is real – Joy suffered terribly. I have an interior closet where I built a thunder cave for her – a crate covered in blankets, then a box fan blowing away from her front door to block the sound. It seemed to help her, as did going deaf. ha. Small blessing.
So thankful my current two think storms are fun. We sit together on the front porch and watch the tornados go by (true story!) then run for the shelter when the siren sounds. Haha – oh Oklahoma!
Anyway, if Bean likes body pressure have you tried an anxiety wrap or thundershirt? Some dogs dig ’em.
-
OMG to watching a tornado, @catherine ! I saw one once while driving in WI — was not amused.
I’ve tried pressure wraps on Bean and it doesn’t seem to help. My hand pressure doesn’t ‘help’ appreciably either — it’s just something to do to keep us connected.
-
Aw lil Bean… I’m so glad she has you.
???? = scary for sure but we do get a lot of warning. I grew up in California with earthquake drills… we all would have died under our desks. (I think they changed the protocol now?) Anyway. I’m glad we have a shelter that both dogs LOVE to go down into!
-
Oh my goodness — I did the under-the-desk thing in NY when I was a kid. It was an air raid drill!
-
Ugh. Now THAT’s scary!
-
-
-
-
Log in to reply.