O/T dog storm phobia
My sweet Pittie mix has a terrible time with storms. Very little response to Prozac or Xanax and I think one other thing the vet tried. Thundershirt and hemp chewies also not effective.
She pants, drools, shakes, climbs on me, runs out into the storm if she gets half a chance. She really suffers, and so do I.
And my grumpy old lady border collie mix is super protective of me and doesn't share well.
To top it off, DH is hospitalized (several issues, but most serious is knee surgery for an infection). Not sure if he'll come home or go to a rehab facility. Either way, I have no help and added caregiver responsibilities. I'm super stressed and lack of sleep because of the dog is really hard.
If you've had a severely storm phobic dog, what has helped? I'm desperate!
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Sorry
I can't help with your poor dog's fears as don't have much experience with puppies. It sounds awful for the poor thing.
I wanted to pop on to say I'm to hear your DH is unwell. You'll both be in my thoughts.
Thank you. He thinks he's
Thank you. He thinks he's going home today. I think he needs a week in a rehab facility first. Waiting on a PT evaluation.
Should make a good recovery, but he's 74 with mild cognitive issues.
{{{hugs}}} for you. I hope
{{{hugs}}} for you. I hope your DH recovers quickly.
Have you tried a Thundershirt for your furbaby? Friends of mine use one for their basset hound and it helps.
Thundershirt might take the
Thundershirt might take the fear from 100 to 90. So it's not enough.
Is there a small room that
Is there a small room that you could totally soundproof for her? White noise machine?
I have moved a dog bed into
I have moved a dog bed into my (very large) bedroom closet, which is very quiet. I can make that her safe space. She'll probably want me in there too. Tea and dog biscuits for us.
Good idea.
Audio Sound Foam
A low-cost solution is to panel that closet ceiling & walls with acoustic sound foam. I used to live with an audio engineer/musician/composer/remix artist and we had a bedroom with this stuff on the walls, ceiling, and windows as his music recording studio; this stuff blocks a lot of noise! I used my glue-gun to stick it up since the foam weighs hardly anything (plus no holes or damage to the walls when you take it down). I also used to play music at a radio station with the same stuff on the walls - you don't realize how much noise bounces and amplifies off hard, flat surfaces until you're in a room paneled with that foam.
Amazon link: Focusound 24 Packs Acoustic Foam Panels Pyramid 2" X 12" X 12" High Density 25kg/m3, Soundproofing Foam Noise Cancelling Foam with 120 PCS Double-Side Adhesive https://a.co/d/343F33t
Poor girl! I'm afraid I don't
Poor girl! I'm afraid I don't have great advice. We had a greyhound who was scared of storms, but it wasn't to that degree. She was manageable. She just needed to be wrapped in a blankie and given extra cuddles.
We also have a pittie mix (just adopted in January from a local rescue) and he is the sweetest boy! He has an under bite that gives him a perpetual pout and he's a mostly black dog. He looks utterly ferocious. But he's the most affectionate, loving big baby you could ever meet. Though he thinks he's a lapdog and eventually you start to lose circulation in your legs...
It's too bad the breed gets such a bad name.
Pitties
We inherited a pittie, Maxine, from OSS when his landlord so unfairly and prejudicely refused to let him keep her there. I was ignorant about the breed and the owner responsibility required but we learned.
You're right that they're an affectionate and gentle breed unless trained otherwise. My gkids, when young, loved playing Dog Doctor with her. The grandfather on the other side was apprehensive about GD being around the dog but there was no problem. The kids stuck Qtips in her ears and other vet practices, but she endured it all.
I didn't realize the value of these dogs to certain segments so when she had puppies, I put an ad in the paper, "Free part pit bull puppies to good home". My phone rang off the hook and pickup trucks with gun racks were lined up.
The puppies were cute but they were SO ENERGETIC. Rest in peace, dear Maxine.
I don't have a dog, but when
I don't have a dog, but when we were kids my parents used to put our border collie in the downstairs bathroom (no windows, quietest place in the house, so she felt more secure. She'd bite at the doors/doorframes otherwise. She never did any damage in there.
During the 4th of July some people swear by anti-anxiety drugs/herbs obtained from the vet or Chewy?
Maggie was our pittie mix.
Maggie was our pittie mix. She was a sweatheart baby. As we all followed the path of the prior Rags clan generational diaspora she ended up on my GP's farm. She had a good life. She was not overly neurotic regarding storms or anything else for that matter.
I'm sorry to hear about your baby's storm anxieties and hope DH's recovery goes well.
One of my dogs felt most
One of my dogs felt most secure in a closet during storms, so I cleared out an area for her. She also had a bit of separation anxiety, which CBD oil seemed to calm. It's hard to see them so traumatized.
Awwww, we have one that
Awwww, we have one that shakes, paces, hides in closets, bathtubs. PRE bad weather (she knows when storms are about to come thru) and fireworks.
Our vet gave us medication that helped to take the edge off once is kicked in. That usually takes an hour or so.
NO JOKE, I found "Thunder Ease pheromone spray" on Amazon that works very quickly. I spray on check and upper legs. POOF in a matter of 5 to 10minutes she is at ease. Doesnt stop her from hiding but she no longer shakes or paces.
Runs about 25.00 on amazon. Bottle lasts several several months.
Hope it helps.
Poor things
Wow, I'll try it! We've
Wow, I'll try it! We've switched her to a tranquilizer and that helps, but she still tries to climb on me. If I play the radio so she can't hear the rain that helps too.