Anxiety in dogs is a relatively familiar concern that has besieged the poor animals and their worried owners alike. Unfortunately, unlike their human counterpart, dogs cannot articulate these fears and can only express themselves through harmful and destructive behavior. Because of unreasonable and very often gripping dog fears, many of the victims dig through walls and floors until they are bleeding in an attempt to get away from their source of fear.
A common phobia is fear of thunderstorms. If this sounds like your pet, check with your vet concerning the most helpful treatment you can utilize. You can avail of pharmaceutical medications that can facilitate this condition. However, understand that these will not cure the root of the phobia as most medications serve to only tranquilize and relax your dog.
Because drugs and chemicals are often harmful to any immune system, work with methods that are natural and non-invasive first. We will discuss various things you can do to treat dog fears without having to use medication, specifically those concerning noise phobia.
An easy way to calm anxiety in dogs is to play relaxing music, more specifically harp music. It has been scientifically proven that music therapy has tremendously helped human beings reduce stress levels; and studies have shown the same results in animals. After playing 10-20 minutes of gentle and soothing music, the canine will be in a more relaxed state.
A body wrap will also help in taking away the nervousness of the animal. The stimuli of the canine are extra sensitive-- the maintained and constant pressure of the wrap eases this tension. Use an old t-shirt or whatever stretch fabric to bind the torso firmly. Do this before he actually gets restless so he will not relate the feeling of tension with the wrap.
One effective technique dog behaviorists employ is counter conditioning. This is counteracting the situation that causes fear by replacing it with another situation that will get a positive response from the animal. If you are simulating a thunderstorm, have the distant rumbling of the storm begin very, very softly. Give the dog his favorite treats as you gradually increase the intensity.
If these do not work, a natural supplement that improves this phobia is melatonin. Melatonin is an over the counter medication people use to treat insomnia. When the proper dosage is administered to the canine, he remains awake but has distinctly stopped being fearful. Be aware though, that there are differing manufacturers so the quality and dosage one should mete out will differ. Consult your veterinarian before you proceed.
The fear of thunderstorms that dogs exhibit varies in degree. Some people say that rescued dogs may be more susceptible to this because many have been traumatized severely in the past. Schedule regular check-ups with your vet for disturbances in your dogs behavior to accurately diagnose and treat the problem.
A common phobia is fear of thunderstorms. If this sounds like your pet, check with your vet concerning the most helpful treatment you can utilize. You can avail of pharmaceutical medications that can facilitate this condition. However, understand that these will not cure the root of the phobia as most medications serve to only tranquilize and relax your dog.
Because drugs and chemicals are often harmful to any immune system, work with methods that are natural and non-invasive first. We will discuss various things you can do to treat dog fears without having to use medication, specifically those concerning noise phobia.
An easy way to calm anxiety in dogs is to play relaxing music, more specifically harp music. It has been scientifically proven that music therapy has tremendously helped human beings reduce stress levels; and studies have shown the same results in animals. After playing 10-20 minutes of gentle and soothing music, the canine will be in a more relaxed state.
A body wrap will also help in taking away the nervousness of the animal. The stimuli of the canine are extra sensitive-- the maintained and constant pressure of the wrap eases this tension. Use an old t-shirt or whatever stretch fabric to bind the torso firmly. Do this before he actually gets restless so he will not relate the feeling of tension with the wrap.
One effective technique dog behaviorists employ is counter conditioning. This is counteracting the situation that causes fear by replacing it with another situation that will get a positive response from the animal. If you are simulating a thunderstorm, have the distant rumbling of the storm begin very, very softly. Give the dog his favorite treats as you gradually increase the intensity.
If these do not work, a natural supplement that improves this phobia is melatonin. Melatonin is an over the counter medication people use to treat insomnia. When the proper dosage is administered to the canine, he remains awake but has distinctly stopped being fearful. Be aware though, that there are differing manufacturers so the quality and dosage one should mete out will differ. Consult your veterinarian before you proceed.
The fear of thunderstorms that dogs exhibit varies in degree. Some people say that rescued dogs may be more susceptible to this because many have been traumatized severely in the past. Schedule regular check-ups with your vet for disturbances in your dogs behavior to accurately diagnose and treat the problem.
About the Author:
Fear of thunderstorms is one of the many forms of anxiety in dogs pet owners have been trying to learn more about. Delve deep into your beloved canine's most misunderstood dog fears and set him free by downloading Geraldine Dimarco's informative articles here.
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