I have a recently acquired older dog (9 years old) who is as sweet, and smart, and NORMAL in every way as she can be - with one exception. Everytime the weather turns bad - especially if there is thunder and/or lightning, she absolutely freaks out. She starts turning in circles, runs around wildly looking for places to hide (her favorite spot is under, or between my feet!) and just generally turning into the personification of PANIC! When I try to hold her, I can feel her entire body shaking like a leaf, and her heart feels like it will jump right out of her chest. I'm actually afraid she will have a heart attack. It's so bad that I can't leave her alone when it rains for fear she will hurt herself.

My question is - does anyone know if there is a dog tranquilizer that is safe for frequent and/or prolonged use. And, preferably something natural - a food supplement or herbal concoction, or at least a cheap over-the-counter remedy. My vet bills are already outrageous (45 pets! of just about every genera available.) I have tried some behaviour modification, but I don't think it will work unless I can first calm her down a little bit.

-- Deborah Stephenson (wonkaandgypsy@hotmail.com), May 03, 2002

Answers

Childrens gravol by weight

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), May 03, 2002.

We have had the same problem with our dog. We give her Bendryl (store brand). She is about 60 pounds so she can have up to two twice a day. You will need to give it to your dog before the storm starts. It takes about 2 hours to take affect with our dog.

-- Cindy in NY (cjpopeck@worldnet.att.net), May 03, 2002.

We are having the same problem with our 7 year old chihuahua. On the recommendation of a Countrysider, we have ordered Dr. Bach's Rescue Remedy. It is sold at outlets that promote natural products, herbals, etc. You can put the product in the mouth or even in the ear, I am told. Just 2 drops. Our order has not arrived yeat. Look into it. Also, look in archives for my plea for help, around Apr. 10-18

-- Buddy in e. Ga. (Buddybud@csranet.com), May 03, 2002.

Not sure of a drug or herb that will help, but what about creating a snug, quiet, safe spot for her to go when it storms? Like, a plastic dog crate in a closet, with blankies and stuff to make her feel cozy. Maybe even play some soothing music there, to help cover up the sound of the rain. Classical music has a measurable calming effect on everything from plants to prisoners. One of our dogs has this same problem. You wonder what exactly they think is happening, especially after living through years & years of rain storms!

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), May 04, 2002.

I can testify, Dr. Bachs Rescue Remedy does work. We have a rescue dog here now for two years. At first she was so terrified of us, the house, the other dogs, trucks going by, thunder, even the phone ringing!. I started using the Rescue Remedy, a few drops in her mouth before attempting anything new, walking on a leash, brushing her, having the vet come for rabies shots( the vet does all the farm animals and as a courtesy does my dogs and cats that don't travel well.) She is still timid around strangers, likes to run into a crate when stressed, but now we can easily walk her, etc. One source is http://www.naturalrearing.com/CATALOGUE/Products.htm.

-- Kate in New York (Kate@sheepyvalley.com), May 04, 2002.

I have a blue heeler that is the same way. She is about a 42 pound dog. My vet gives me ACE PROMAZINE TABS 10MG She use to take the whole tab when we started her on them and also let her into the house. To help he fear (and this is the hard part mostly for my husband!) you have to ignore them compleatly!! If you act like oh baby whats the mater everything will be alright! it instills in them that everything isn't alright. If you ignore them it really dose help. Now when my dog trys to jump on my lap for comfort I say in a stirn voice NO Sit Down and usualy she will lay at my feet and try to relax. We now give her 1/2 a pill and do the same thing she is getting better but its been about 2 years. When I give her the pill I take a small piece of cheese and put in in the palm of my hand and squish it around till its soft then stick the pill in the middle and she takes it down so fast she dosn't know theres a pill in it. It funny but after two year she knows the cheese ball is for her fear and that is relaxes her becase the only time she gets it is about 1/2 hr before a storm hits. But if I know a storm is going to pass and will be over withen a hour I don't like to durg her, so I give her a plain cheese ball (no pill) and she thinks she has had her med and relaxes just the same. If the storm lasts more than a hour she knows its not working LOL she needs a therapist LOL. With the whole pill she seems druged (very grogry) with half the pill she is just relaxed. Make sure you know your dogs weight when asking for any meds cause that is what they go by. Oh just a funny note my dogs name is Stormy Joe and her pup is Thunder Bear.

-- Teresa (Mo) (c3ranch@socket.net), May 04, 2002.

Thanks everybody. There are some good suggestions here that I will probably try.

Buddy - thanks for the tip on the archived post. I did check but must have looked at "Pet Care" and forgot to check "Pets". There were lots of good ideas there too.

I've heard so many people mention Bachs Rescue Remedy that I guess I ought to give that a try before going to anything like Valium or other prescription meds.

I also want to try the crate idea Shannon - someone else (in the archives) suggested that too. My only concern there is that since she seems to want to be as close to me as she can get when she is scared, she might be frightened of being left alone in a crate. Maybe I can put the crate wherever I happen to be working during the storm. It may not be as quiet that way, but at least I can talk soothingly to her, and it has the advantage that I won't constantly be tripping over her like I do now. (As for music - our radio is more or less permanently tuned to Public Radio, which means around here it's classical from about 10am to 3pm each day. I discovered a long time ago that it kept my cats from fighting as much when I had to be out.)

Thanks again everyone.

Oh, almost forgot - what is children's gravol?

-- Deborah Stephenson (wonkaandgypsy@hotmail.com), May 04, 2002.

I looked in my homeopathic books, and there are a couple of homeopathic remedies you can try which may cure her of the problem altogethr. One is Phosphorus, which has fear of thunderstorms and sensitivity to all sorts of external impressions (light, sound, electrical changes,etc) as well as fear of being left, of solitude. Another remedy called Naja tripudians, has fear of rain & thunderstorms, but this is a rare remedy and you may have trouble finding it. Both remedies cover trembling and palpitation. You may be able to find Phosphorus 30c at your local health food/natural remedy store. Otherwise, you can order it online at Homeopathy Overnight. Homeopathic remedies are not expensive. (The way to administer ahomeopathic remedy is to put a few of the little sugar pillules under the animal's tongue -- don't put them in her food or mix them in her water. A couple of dogs I know lick them out of my hand. They seem to know I am trying to help them. My own dog KNOWS they are medicine of some sort and tries to nonchalantly get out of the room/house... homeopathic remedies are not like vitamins or antibiotics -- when you see some improvement, you stop giving them, and let the remedy act.)

-- snoozy (bunny@northsound.net), May 04, 2002.

Children's Gravol, anti-nausia med. Travel tabs for car sickness. They have a seditive side effect. I wouldn't use it full time though.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), May 04, 2002.

Bach rescue remedy is a good idea. There is another herbal tincture that is available called Tranquility Blend by Animals' Apawthecary. I have used this with my dogs (hate the vet) and it calmed them down almost immediately. My 6 year old bearded collie made her first trip on a leash WITHOUT PULLING on this stuff! I was very impressed! (Poor dear, she never quite got the hang of walking nicely on a leash! Too much Tigger-type bounce in her!)It is a blend of Organic Valerian, Skullcap, Passion flower, and Oatstraw in a glycerine base. The taste (yes, I tasted before giving!) is kind of sweet, so both of my dogs don't mind my giving it to them by eyedropper.

I would think any kind of locally available tincture with these ingredients would help your dog become more calm during storms.

Good Luck!

-- Robbie in So. CA (rraley@sbcglobal.net), May 04, 2002.

I have always had at least one dog in the bunch that freaked out with loud noises, i.e. thunder, fireworks, etc. I finally found somethng that is easy to get and cheap and WORKS....its a homeopathic remedy by Hyland's called Calms Forte. My dogs just eat the tabs like candy. Also, there is a book called The Tellington Touch that introduces a therapeutic touch for working with all animals and its realy easy, and calming. This technique has sucessfully been used for re-programming agressive, shy, frightened and otherwise distraught animals as well as healing injuries and disease. Linda Tellington Jones is the author. She describes a method of working with dogs using a length of rope laid over their back in a certain way to help them gain self confidence. I have not tried this yet, but have used the Tellington Touch technique and it is awesome. Good luck.........thunderstorm season is just starting here in Idaho.

-- Barbara Ann (think_peace51@hotmail.com), May 05, 2002.