This is the time of year when a lot of dog owners notice
their dogs having Noise Phobias. Whether
it is from fireworks, thunderstorms, motorcycles or gunshots, dogs can show the
same symptoms/reactions to these noises.
The most common fear reactions in dogs to these noises would be hiding,
panting, trembling, and seeking attention from their owner. In severe cases, you
may see destructive behaviors and or aggression. The magnitude of these reactions can be based
upon the severity of the dog’s phobia or the loudness of the sound.
Here at Kingsbrook Animal Hospital, we see a lot of our patients with these fears to
noises. There are a few things that we
recommend that you can try:
The first
would be desensitization to these loud
noises. There is a great website by Dr.
Sophia Yin that is a great reference. To visit her website CLICK HERE. Dr. Yin focuses on behavior modification
and has lots of great tips for these types of situations.
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| Ranee's Blossom modeling her pink Thundershirt |
Another option would be DAP or dog
appeasing pheromones. Pheromones
naturally relax or affect an animal’s behavior.
These can be found in a collar, spray, or a plug in at any retail pet
store.
In some cases these options are just not enough for a
severe noise phobia. In that case, we do recommend an exam with one of our veterinarians to discuss medication options.
Please feel free to call and speak with any of our staff
here at KAH to discuss further if you think your dog may be having a
noise phobia.
