Calm During the Storm

Vegetarian Times, March, 1999 by Lee Reilly

Q My dog trembles and pants heavily during thunderstorms. Is there any natural way to help calm her? -- A.T., St. Louis, Mo.

When lightning and thunder strike, countless dogs go into fear mode: barking, shaking, panting, pacing, cowering, hiding in closets, sometimes even running away. Changes in atmospheric pressure naturally create tension in animals, and when thunder crashes, some dogs panic, according to Caroline Coile, Ph.D., a canine neurologist in Ochlocknee, Ga., and author of Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds (Barron's, 1998).

"The worst thing a pet owner can do is coddle the frightened animal," says Rob Mullin, a dog trainer and owner of the K-9 Wizard, an obedience school in Trumbull, Conn. "This will only reinforce his fear." Behavior modification techniques that gradually acclimate your pet to loud noises is the one tried-and-true thing that professionals swear by. "Dogs are easily trained not to fear thunderstorms because dogs can be trained to do just about anything," Mullin says. A 60minute audiotape of thunderstorms, fireworks, construction sounds and sirens is available from Canine Communications Inc. that helps desensitize your dog--and prevents puppies from developing such fears. It's recommended that owners play these tapes four times a day, for three months, raising the volume slightly each day. "The trick to making this work is diligence," adds Mullin.

A botanical remedy is flower essences, alcohol- or water-based preparations that contain minute amounts of healing flowers. Using custom-tailored flower remedy treatments has helped many dogs unlearn their fear of thunderstorms, says Bob Goldstein, V.M.D., a holistic veterinarian in Westport, Conn. "They don't tranquilize the dog like a pharmaceutical does. They work on an emotional level, gently boosting an animal's confidence so they become `immune' to the noise. They still hear it but don't react as intensely." Holistic pet shops carry many effective single and combination remedies, but Goldstein swears by Anaflora's Special Stress. This tincture, created specifically for animals, contains a mix of calming essences (aspen, date palm, yarrow, wild rose, red chestnut). Follow label dosage guidelines.

Another natural option is homeopathy. Developed in the 18th century by German physician Samuel Hahnemann, homeopathy works on the premise that a substance that brings on certain symptoms in a healthy individual can heal those same symptoms in someone who's ill. Homeopathic medicines are made from diluted plant, mineral and animal sources, so check the label or call the manufacturer if you're uncertain if a product is vegetarian.

Because homeopathy is an individualized approach to healing that focuses on the whole patient rather than the symptoms, practitioners prefer to examine an animal before suggesting any remedies. "There's not a single treatment that's right for all dogs," says George Glanzberg, D.V.M., a homeopathic veterinarian who practices in North Bennington, Vt. But you can try any one of several homeopathic remedies for animals, which are available in natural health stores and pet shops. Some that have proven useful include Aconite and Phosphorus, routinely used for soothing nervousness. Many are available in tincture form, but if you can only find pellets, here's how doctors suggest you administer them: shake four pellets into an envelope, crush into a powder and pour into your pet's mouth.

It's also safe to give animals Bach's Rescue Remedy, the same formula humans use to reduce stress. Place two drops on your dog's tongue every 15 minutes during the storm or add a dropperful to her water.

Valerian root, a potent sedative that depresses the central nervous system, is the most commonly used herb for quelling anxiety in people and helping insomniacs relax enough to get some sleep. Goldstein recommends mixing 5 drops of the tincture into a little bowl of water for small dogs (1 to 14 lbs.); 7 for medium (15 to 34 lbs.); 10 for large (35 to 84 lbs.); and 12 for extra-large dogs (85 lbs. plus). Passaflora and passionflower can also help, but most vets agree that valerian is your best bet.

Behavior programs and herbal remedies aside, affection is often the best solution. For some dogs, distraction--with toys, food or games--may work, according to Coile. "But too much attention can reinforce the sense that there's something really wrong going on," she says. Just think of a storm as an opportunity to prove that people really are a dog's best friends.

RESOURCES

* American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association; (410) 569-0795

* Anaflora; (530) 926-6424

* Bach Flower Essences; (800) 314-2224

* Canine Communications; (800) 952-6517

Lee Reilly is a Chicago-based free-lance writer.