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Amber hid evenings from about July 1 through July 5, and followed
me closely wherever I went when she heard thunder outside. She did
NOT like loud noises and bright flashes AT ALL.
Many pets exhibit fear, even phobias, of any sudden or unusually loud noises. As we enter the season of thunder and fireworks, you may be wondering just how to help your pets—and your family—survive the season with minimum stress.
Firstly keep animals safe, preferably indoors. If you have a cat flap or dog door, remember to secure that, so a panicking animal can’t dash out and get injured in traffic or disoriented and lost in its fear-stricken state.
Next, remember that many animals do have more sensitive sight and hearing than we humans—the sudden noises and flashes may hurt! Close doors and windows in the room where you’re keeping your pet, to lessen the noise. Close curtains where possible, to further help muffle sounds and shut out the flashes.
Crate-training may really help a dog through thunderstorms and Independence Day celebrations by providing a known safe place. Lots of blankets or other soft cloth can help make cozy whatever safe hideout you prepare for your pet—and they absorb more of the sound. However, if your dog works off anxiety by movement, it will get more anxious if confined and should not be crated during storms.
Cats usually prefer high places. Best to let your cat choose its own haven… and common sense suggests you leave it there. Have you ever tried to move a terrified cat? Would you like to see scars?
Do remain quietly near your pet for the duration of the storm, if you can. Mind you, I’ve heard and read many times, “Do not try to reassure your dog or cat, or make a fuss over him/her.” OK, I would hardly give a food reward to a dog showing fear … my dogs wouldn’t eat when terrified, anyway. But to ignore my pet’s distress … not possible. If your dog comes over, of course you will give him/her a quiet stroke. But here’s the key—don’t make a big deal of the attention. Making a fuss can signal to your pet that the storm really is scary.
Some possible approaches to lessening noise fears in dogs:
Distract your dog. Start playing fetch or grooming your dog---any activity your dog enjoys—while the scary noise is faint and far away. Give treats as rewards so the dog learns that good things can happen with that noise around. This might work with my current dog, more laid back to begin with and going slightly deaf with age. Proponents of this approach admit it only works until the noise gets loud enough your dog stops paying attention to the distraction. However, it may reinforce the next suggestion, namely …
Retrain your dog. If you know your dog is scared of fireworks, then you can buy recordings of thunder, gunshots or fireworks, to teach your dog to be less afraid of loud noises, including fireworks. However, this takes time, a lot of patience, and knowing what you’re doing. Plus, as any trainer of hunting dogs can tell you, some dogs remain “gun-shy”—scared of sudden, loud noises—no matter how much training the get or how early you start.
And for any pet ... Consult your veterinarian! If your pet shows signs of severe stress in storms, check with your vet on whether some form of medication can protect your pet from causing harm to itself or others when loud noises threaten.
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