Storm Anxiety in Dogs

Dogs, just like people, can become severely stressed in a particular situation. Storms are a beautiful thing to watch and listen to. The lightning, thunder and rain combined can be very peaceful to listen to. However, in some dogs, this is not something that is beautiful or peaceful. For many dogs, storms induce severe stress and your dog may exhibit unpredictable behaviour as a result. For the majority of dogs with storm-related stress, it is the lightning and thunder that causes the stress. For some, just smelling the rain creates stress because the dog will associate the rain with lightning and thunder.

In severe cases of storm-related stress, the dog will cause self-inflicted wounds trying to claw out of their cage or whatever room they are in. Many dogs will try and dig their way out of wherever they are (this includes small rooms in the house such as laundry rooms). They do this because they feel that they are trapped and that there is no way out of the room before that terrible noise gets them. You may come home and find that your dog has scratched a huge hold in the wall or has chewed the door. This is not something that you should be angry at your dog about. This is a serious condition and is hard on your dog's health. It is something that needs to be addressed as soon as possible so that you or the dog do not have to go through it anymore.

There are some cases in which the dog has dug a large hole out from under the fence in the yard and was hit by a car. There is treatment to help your dog at times of severe stress. For example, Valium (Diazepam) may be prescribed by your veterinarian to your dog in severe cases of storm-related stress. Some veterinarians will even recommend Benadryl for its sedative effect before trying a more heavy sedative such as Valium. Either way, it is essential that you address this problem and give your canine friend some stress relief. Usually, you will want to give any medication about 30-60 minutes prior to the major stress trigger. For moderate cases your dog may require something light to aid with the stress. There is a product called Rescue Remedy. This is a natural product and it creates a light sedative effect. You should consult with your veterinarian in regards to stress management for your dog.