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Dr Laura Morland
Dr. Laura Morland graduated from Kansas State University in 1971 with a doctorate in veterinary medicine. Dr. Morland is very involved in her community. She has four children and two grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoys raising Yorkies, Cairns and Maltese, and being a grandma. Dr. Morland may be reached at 620-724-8054 or visit www.girardanimalhospital.com.
Animals, Reptiles & Insects
2013-06-25 09:45:48
What can I do for a dog who is scared of storms?
Q-What can I do to help my dog who is scared of storms and loud noises?
A-Summer time is here and storm season is upon us creating havoc for storm phobic dogs and their people. During storm and noise events dogs can display a wide variety of symptoms from trembling, panting and pacing to outright panic and damage to both the animal and owner property. Dogs that experience intense responses to noises and storms need our help to ease their suffering. Helping these dogs requires environmental management, behavior modification and often medication. An important first step is to create a calm, safe place for dogs experiencing noise and storm sensitivities to be during the event. Pet owners should identify a quiet, dark, safe location where the dog can go during noise events. A room with no windows may diminish the noise or ability to hear or see outside stimuli. It can be helpful if music is played or noise from a fan that will mask the disturbing outside noises during storms. You should practice taking the dog to this location when no storms are present and begin to associate good things like food stuffed toys and calm petting with the location. Also the dog should be able to come and go as confinement can sometimes make the panic worse. Teaching the dog how to settle and relax in a specific location is extremely useful. Training is facilitated with food stuffed toys or food rewards. The goal is for the dog to be emotionally calm on cue and so it is important that the training takes place before the fear inducing event so the dog will settle easily during a storm. Desensitization using audio CD's of storm sounds or other noises can be useful to diminish responses and help the dog learn to be calm during the event. Snug fitting garments and wraps such as a Thundershirt are often useful in calming an anxious dog. For some dogs, these recommendations will not be enough and medications may need to be utilized. There is no medication that is specifically approved for the treatment of noise and storm phobias but there are various ones that have been tried with some success. See your veterinarian for help assessing your pet and coming up with a plan to help your pet during the stressful times.
 
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