Calming your Pet During a Thunderstorm
If you’re like many pet owners, you’ve witnessed the terror that summer storms can strike in your pet. “Thunder phobia” most commonly develops in pets between ages two and four, according to animal behaviorist Patricia McConnell. This fear can manifest as a variety of challenging behaviors—hiding, whining, scratching, slobbering, or tearing down door frames in a state of panic—and it can get worse with age.
What’s important to remember is that pets suffering from thunderstorm fear are not misbehaving, says animal behaviorist Lindsay Wood of the Boulder Valley Humane Society. They’re displaying symptoms of anxiety.
Vets and animal specialists aren’t certain exactly what part of a storm causes pets the most discomfort – the noise, the flashing lights, or something else entirely. Some pets may be worriers in general and panic at any change, while others may be overly sensitive to sound, according to CJ Bentley of the Michigan Humane Society. Pets also possess special sensitivities that make storms even more terrifying: pets can sense the change in air pressure, and may hear low-frequency rumblings that humans can’t detect. Some vets also believe pets experience shocks from the buildup of static electricity that accompanies thunderstorms.
To help your pet cope with stormy weather, Cynthia Bolte , who works on the animal behavior team at Purina, offers the following tips:
- If there are windows in the room, close the blinds or curtains, or cover the windows so the pet can’t see outside.
- Provide a safe indoor area, like a crate. A plastic crate is preferable, but if you have a wire crate, you can cover it with a sheet to create the feeling of a haven. Leave the door open so the pet does not feel trapped.
- Play calming music to drown out the thunder claps.
- Stay with the pet.
- Try to distract your pet with treats and familiar games.
- If your pet seems most upset by sound, you can try desensitization. Download thunderstorm sounds and practice by playing them quietly to your pet, and give the pet treats or play a fun game with him while the sound is on. Gradually, over weeks, increase the volume. Stop the play or treats when the sounds are turned off. The goal is to help your pet relate the sound of thunderstorms with happy times.
- Use calming massage to reassure the pet.
There are a few products that might help your pet relax as well.
Tight jackets such as the Thundershirt provide a sensation of pressure, which can alleviate pets’ anxiety. (Swaddling a baby operates on the same principle.) You can also make a DIY version by buying a small T-shirt and putting the pet’s front legs through the armholes of the shirt. The shirt should fit snugly around your pet’s torso.
Visual filters such as the Thundercap reduce visual stimulation and can be soothing to pets.
In severe cases, your veterinarian may recommend a low dose of an anti-anxiety medication.
Your veterinarian is the best person to talk to when it comes to helping your pet cope with storms. He or she will be best equipped to pinpoint exactly which stimulus is troubling your pet.
Most importantly, practice positive reinforcement with your pet. Do not scold or punish her for her displays of anxiety, but remember that her behavior is not about disobedience, but about high levels of fear. And that old saw about not comforting your pet because it “reinforces” the fear? Not true at all. Do anything you can to help your pet feel better; teaching her new, pleasant associations is the best way to reduce fearful behavior.
We hope these tips help you and your pet weather the season’s storms.
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