Our beloved dogs are able to hear sounds roughly four times better than humans can. This means that they can hear loud noises in much more detail and at much farther distances than we can.
Thunderstorms can be extremely traumatizing to dogs for this reason. If your pooch gets terribly upset whenever a storm rolls around, this article aims to help you find a solution. While you may not be able to change the fact that your dog is afraid of thunderstorms, you can certainly find ways to manage their anxiety and increase their comfort levels.
Let’s take a look at 5 key ways that you can help your dog with their thunderstorm anxiety.
1. CBD Oil for Dogs
If you give your dog CBD oil an hour or two in advance of a thunderstorm, it can significantly lower your dog’s stress response and allow them to handle canine anxiety naturally.
Hemp grows naturally with an endocannabinoid called CBD. CBD is one of hundreds of cannabinoids found in the hemp plant, and it’s not to be confused with the psychoactive cannabinoid THC.
CBD influences the endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for keeping various other bodily systems in homeostasis. The inflammatory response, the stress response, and feelings of pain are all influenced by the endocannabinoid system.
How to Give Your Dog CBD Oil
Find a vet-formulated dog CBD product made specifically for our canine companions. Never give your dog CBD formulated for human use, as these are typically far stronger than pet products and made with additional ingredients that may not be safe for dogs.
Once you find the right product, take note of the dosage guidelines. CBD oil for dogs is concentrated and should be given to pets carefully.
Drop the oil into their cheek, directly into their mouth, or onto a treat at least 30 minutes before the thunderstorm starts. You can also give it to them in daily dosages, and the results can increase over time cumulatively.
Many dog parents find that this is an excellent option for calming their dogs without sedating them, and CBD has shown to be safe for use in healthy dogs.
2. Thunder Shirts or Anxiety Wraps
Thunder shirts and anxiety wraps are snug blankets or garments intended to help dogs who have extreme responses to things like thunderstorms and fireworks.
The compression these products provide has a calming effect, and contains your dog’s body in a way that keeps them safe physically. They might feel as though they’re being hugged by their owner, or it could simply be the same feeling that humans get when they’re under a weighted blanket.
These are an excellent non-medical option for managing a dog’s situational anxiety. They’re easy to use, they’re typically effective, and they provide you with another line of defense against your dog’s storm anxiety.
3. Create a Safe and Quiet Space
Creating a getaway for your dog can be an excellent way to reduce their anxiety during storms. It can be difficult to create a quiet space depending on where you live, but it’s almost always possible with a little creativity.
Creating a Safe Space in a Home
You have more options if you’re living in a home, because you can dedicate a small room or a closet to be your dog’s quiet getaway.
Ideally, this space is away from any exterior walls because the thunder rattles immediately through the walls. Instead, opt for a room or closet in the middle of your home.
Fill the space with comfortable blankets, an open kennel, and dense furniture, if possible. Placing the blankets inside and on top of the kennel provides a muffled effect when the thunder crashes. Additionally, dense furniture tends to absorb sound.
Naturally, your dog can sit inside this safe space with a greatly reduced volume and less stress on their nervous system. Introduce this space to your dog before storms hit, and they can create a positive association with it so that they’re comfortable when the big thunderstorm rolls around.
Creating a Safe Space in an Apartment
Follow similar advice in an apartment, but just rely more on the use of sound-absorbing objects around your dog’s kennel. Place blankets and pillows under, on top of, and inside the cage so that it’s insulated from sound as much as possible.
Make sure that your dog has access to food, water, and enough space to have a healthy circulation of airflow – you don’t want to overdo the blankets and cover the entrance to the cage, as this can make the air dense and less comfortable.
4. Desensitization Training
Desensitization training involves gradually introducing your dog to the sound of thunder at increasing volumes so that they can slowly come to terms with the fact that it’s not a threat.
Simply play quiet thunder through your home speakers to start. Make note of the volume you started with, and repeat the next day with a slightly higher volume. As time goes on, you’ll reach high volume from the speakers and this may help your dog better tolerate the sound of actual thunder when it crashes.
Note that thunder is far louder than any speaker could ever be. It rattles at a wide range of frequencies and you’ll never be able to truly desensitize your dog to thunder if it already terrifies them.
That said, desensitization can reduce the distress that your dog feels a little, even if it can’t completely eliminate the anxiety.
5. Staying Calm When Your Dog is Panicking
Dogs are incredibly sensitive to our emotions. Part of the reason they’re getting overwhelmed during storms could be the fact that you’re showing your own heightened emotions.
It’s similar to situations when you get your dog excited to go outside because you’re excited as well. You ramp them up to be overjoyed, whereas during storms you could be working them up anxiously.
Do your best to remain calm, breathe slowly, and comfort them throughout the storm. Your calming and comforting presence can do wonders for your dog. At the very least, your comfort can keep them safe and comfortable during the storm so they don’t panic and run off or put themselves in physical harm.
Conclusion
While there isn’t any immediate cure for thunderstorm anxiety in dogs, there are things you can do to greatly increase their comfort. Options like CBD oil, thunder wraps, desensitization, and creating a safe space can all help.
Additionally, remember to keep calm and comfort your dog as they deal with these difficult emotions. If things are severe, discuss other options with your veterinarian so you can finally help your dog get over their storm anxiety.
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