How do I help a dog with storm anxiety?

[Pea-n-Me]

My best advice is not to inadvertently reinforce the dog's anxiety by "soothing" them when they're frightened. Just go about your business and act like nothing's wrong. They do prefer to be in a "den"-like spot during storms - they feel safe there.

Our schnorgi (schnauzer & corgi) was abused by his breeders..they were not pleased with mixed breed. So we got him at 4 months. He's now 3 1/2 yrs but still suffers from fright aggresion. When he gets scared, he tends to growl and snap. Of course he feels remorse immediately and we give him his muzzle for time out

What?

 

[fabulousfive]

I don't have much experience with this, but did see a commercial for a thundershirt not long ago. You may want to check out the product.

 

[mrsksomeday]

Poor big baby! I have one also. My male Neapolitan Mastiff has HUGE storm and firework issues. We have tried everything. You can ask your vet about Acepromazine. It is a tranquilizer. Although it worked the dose was too high and my dog was very sensitive to the effects. Knocked him out for 12 hours.

We have a Thundershirt, sometimes it helps sometimes it doesn't. Desensitizing him to the noise didn't work either. Acepromazine has worked very well. They gave a us a low dosage and we can give him 1/2 to 1 pill. It has never knocked him out, although if you give him the whole pill he sometimes drunk walks.

 

[sjs314]

I have a Golden, the most well behaved and friendliest dog you would ever find. bella is going to be 8 years old in October, came from an excellent breeder but she freaks out at the first sound of a storm approaching usually before I hear the thunder she does and jumps up with me where ever I am.

I have looked at e Thundershirts but not sure yet about them. Bella is big over 100 lbs.

A few weeks ago we had a Micro Burst where I live Bella was up on the couch with me, she about knocked me onto the floor as she tried to hide behide me when the winds picked up and a tree came down not far from my house.

I wonder if I should ask the Vet about an anxiety med for her?

 

[MrsDuck]

I've heard great things about the Thunder Shirt.

Our cat went on Kitty Prozac for "anxiety" - depending on the severity of your pup's fear, maybe this would be a final option if other methods don't work?