While most northerners are preparing for the first blanket
of snow to start their winter, Houston has been inundated with yet another
rainy season with thunderstorms, flash flooding and even tornadoes. Some dogs
take this all in stride, jumping in puddles and soaking up the indoor time
cuddled under a blanket with their best friend. Other dogs, to put it frankly,
freak out. They become anxious: whining, hiding under beds or in closets,
pacing back and forth, or acting out by tearing up some part of their
environment to deal with their anxiousness. There are, however, techniques to
soothing your pooch through Houston’s November weather.
The first tactic is to keep the dogs in a room or a crate
where they are not confronted with the storm through a window or door. The
crashing thunder and flashing lighting is less of a trigger if they can’t see
the storm and only hear some of the thunder at a volume consistent with other
neighborhood noises they are more familiar with. Here at Urban Tails, since we
have windows in our day care rooms, we will remove a stressed dog from the day
care floor and let them calm down in one of our lofts where the thunder and
lightning aren’t as much of a stress factor.
Another technique is the use of Thundershirts. This is a
relatively new product designed specifically for stressed and agitated dogs.
Made of t-shirt like material and fitted with flaps that allow it to wrap
tightly around your dog, it provides comforting pressure that calms dogs during
many kinds of stressful times like storms, traveling, fireworks, and can even
help with separation anxiety. While the patent is pending, the product has
worked wonders for many dog owners. At Urban Tails, we have Thundershirts set aside
for those dogs we know will be anxious while staying with us.
In severe cases where dogs tear up a door or the flooring of
their environment, whether they are crated or not, the veterinarian can save
the day with medication to help your pet get through the storm without injuring
itself or your home. These medications are more often than not tranquilizers
that induce a state of calm restfulness so be sure you are aware of your dogs’
reaction to these as they can impede their abilities of movement.
Many owners are familiar with what causes their dogs’ stress
and will notify us of what behavior to look out for and how they can best be
comforted. Sometimes it’s as easy as a soothing voice or comforting cuddle, a
distraction like a tennis ball to chase, or a few minutes to themselves. Be
sure to speak to your veterinarian about how best to deal with stressful
activity that can affect your favorite canine and if Urban Tails can help out in anyway, please let us know!
