What is storm phobia in dogs and how is it treated?

Bosca loves lots of things, but one thing he really loathes is storms. He's not alone - many dogs suffer from storm phobia.

Do you live with a companion animal that suffers from a phobia? Storm phobias, especially in dogs, are not uncommon. Affected animals may display mild signs or suffer from extreme panic reactions and destructive

behaviour. Our family dog Bosca panics during storms and can become inconsolable, even trying to escape.

Later this year, the Australian VeterinaryAssociation Behaviour Interest Group (AVBIG) will host a webinar on storm phobias, discussing symptoms, comorbidities and management.

Elle Parker from AVBIG took some time out to give us the low-down.

What are the signs of storm phobia?

Signs of anxiety / stress / panic that occur temporally associated with storms or other phenomena that have become associated with storms (wind, rain, darkening sky etc). Most commonly dogs will vocalise, pant, pace, become clingy and attention-seeking. They may hide, cower, tremble, salivate, defecate or urinate. They may become unresponsive to commands and stop eating. Some will seek certain places in the home such as bathroom or bathtub. 

Is it usually accompanied by other fears and phobias, such as noise phobia, or is it more often very specific to storms?

Can be either.

It is VERY commonly part of a more complex or general anxiety disorder or co-morbid with noise sensitivity or separation distress. 

Some dogs seem to only have focal storm phobia with no other observed problems. 

Some dogs may develop storm phobia secondary to a trauma or fearful event - being outside when lightning strikes. 

Some are genetically predisposed and in some dogs it manifests in social maturity. 

How common is storm phobia?

I don't have an exact percentage figure for you but it is super common! Anecdotally it appears to effect almost a third to a half of the dogs I see in referral behaviour practice and certainly a few in every 10 I see in general practice.

What is the biggest misconception about treating storm phobias?

THAT ACP [acepromazine] SHOULD BE USED! 

Acepromazine is contraindicated in storm or noise phobia (or any other stressful event) because:

• it increases noise sensitivity
• it is sedative but NOT anxiolytic ie it blunts motor responses and perceptual appraisal but doesn't make the animal feel better - they are still just as afraid and stressed but less able to accurately perceive information or employ behavioural coping strategies. 

That owners should ignore the dog or refuse to comfort it. This is false.

The dog is behaving due to the underlying emotional response and the owner should do everything possible to improve the emotional state and make the dog feel better i.e. try to calm it down by reassuring it or giving it attention, soothing, words, praise or petting / massage. [Ed. This is really interesting as when I studied we were taught that comforting frightened dogs during storms “rewarded” bad behaviour and should be discouraged. I think this remains a common misconception.]

There is misleading information re if people comfort animals showing distressed behaviour they will reinforce the fear but fear is an emotion not a behaviour and thus cannot be reinforced. The only thing that makes an anxious animal feel better is the abating of that fear.

What are the key strategies veterinarians can employ to help clients with animals with storm phobias? (A lot of clients use thunder jackets- do these work?)

Thunder shirts are hit and miss, they seem to work really well for some dogs but make others more stressed. The dogs may need to be desensitised or counter-conditioned to them. Some dogs who do not tolerate tactile stuff may hate it. I also think that sometimes people misinterpret dogs being inhibited with them being calm (ie they freeze and reduce their motion and outward signs but are actually more stressed by the shirt).

Other strategies should include a multi-modal approach:

• Adaptil
• Psychotropic medication (Benzodiazipines's, Trazodone, Clonidine or a combination of these). Perhaps on top of a long-term baseline SSRI if the dog has more generalised anxiety issues [Ed. you will need to consult with a veterinarian before your dog commences any medication].
• Behaviour modification: desensisation and counter-conditioning to low levels of noise on youtube or CDs
• Management: trying to prevent or dampen auditory and visual stimuli that predict a storm (play background music, close curtains etc)
• Create a Safe Spot or Zen Den [Ed. I think I need a zen den for me!]

How can vets find out more?

• Contact a vet with an interest in behaviour or a member of the Australian New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS).
• Email AVBIG!
• Jump on to one of the Facebook discussion groups (AVBIG or behaviour vet discussion group) and ask questions.
• The BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Behavioural Medicine has a great section on noise/ storm phobia!

Thank you Elle for your time. Members of AVBIG can attend the webinar in September at no cost.

What do canine and human anxiety have in common?

I met this beautiful dog at a wedding - her presence made everyone else less anxious!

We’re increasingly aware that – like people – companion animals can suffer from severe and debilitating anxiety. Earlier this month journalist Patrick Lenton, himself a sufferer of anxiety, shared what he learned about hisanxiety through his own dogs Virginia (Ginny) and Ernest.

For Ginny, her triggers were exhaustive and long. For Ernest, his triggers were Ginny. We discovered that despite all the training we did, when the dogs were being triggered into their red and sometimes orange zones, they were no longer using the same parts of their brain where all the training existed. They were using something more primal and incoherent: literally the only options left were fighting or fleeing. It was a revelation – our dogs weren't naughty, they were anxious.

This is a beautifully honest article and one with a message – punishment of anxious beings just doesn’t work. We need to focus on removing triggers and keeping them out of their orange and red zones.

(Thank you to SAT reader Kerry for sharing the link - you can read the full article here).

And if you want to read more about canine anxiety here are some of our most popular posts on the topic:

http://www.smallanimaltalk.com/2013/11/what-is-canine-separation-anxiety-and.html

http://www.smallanimaltalk.com/2013/08/three-things-i-learned-fears-and.html 

Awesome blogs, anxious dogs and healthy eating ideas for vets: Interview with VegeTARAian Tara Mathews

Blogger Tara Mathews with a chicken.

Tara Mathews is a writer, friend of animals and lover of food. She is the editor of vegeTARAian - a Sydney food and travel blog sharing the adventures of a veg-loving life. I met Tara at a blogging workshop. She was truly ahead of the class and knows blogging inside-out. Her blog rocks. So I had to find out more.

You run a successful blog, vegeTARAian. What does the life of a pro-blogger involve?

Pro-blogger sounds so important and formal! I have a job so I blog in my spare time. Having a food and travel blog is a great excuse to cook new dishes, eat out and take lots of trips to share with my readers.

For many people, food choices are ethical. How is caring for animals reflected in your diet?

I have been vegetarian for over ten years. Switching to a vegetarian diet was driven by my love of animals and the belief that I didn’t need to eat them, and that animals shouldn’t have to die for me to live. Animal welfare was more important and the idea of eating flesh made me uncomfortable. I hope that this lifestyle choice makes a difference by not contributing to or supporting the reportedly cruel practices of the factory farming industry.

Of course being vegetarian is not for everyone so reducing meat intake, introducing weekly veg dishes and campaigns like Meat Free Week are great initiatives to start people thinking about what they are eating.

Tara's dog Mister Pickles suffers from anxiety, which is now well-managed.

What non-human do you share your life with?

I have three furkids: Krumpet - a 10 year old DSH black and white cat, Chili - an 8 year old DSH tortoiseshell cat and Mister Pickles - a 6 year old brindle staffy x kelpie.

They are all happy, healthy and have very different personalities. Thankfully they get along really well too and I couldn't imagine my life without them.

How did you meet?

I adopted Krumpet from the local pound when she was a few months old. Chili came to stay with me when she was around 18 months old, after being given away by two sets of owners.

Tara and Paige (courtesy Lyndal Photography).

I found Mister Pickles through an animal adoption agency - he had been rescued from a pound in Kiama (South Coast of NSW) and was around 18 months old when he came to live with me.

You’ve posted previously about putting Mister Pickles on Prozac. What is it is like being the owner of an anxious dog?

For the first few years everything was good. Mister Pickles had always been a bit timid but as a rescue dog, the vet said this may be due to how he was treated (or perhaps mistreated) in the time before I met him.

Over a few months he started to show signs of anxiety during the day while I was at work. Some days he escaped and some days he hurt himself trying to. When it got as bad as coming home to a pooch with bleeding paws and broken teeth, I knew he needed medical attention.

I'm happy to report that since the medication, Mister Pickles is much calmer. He's still his normal, happy self - just a less hyper and agitated version which is a big relief. I do know that medication is not a forever solution but it's certainly helped him for the short term.

Tara and Mister Pickles (courtesy Cathy Topping Photography).

You mentioned that you really struggled with the idea of using medication to modify his behaviour. What were your major concerns and what changed for you?

I was worried that medicating Mister Pickles would turn him into a dopey and unresponsive pooch. I thought his personality would be compromised and he wouldn't be himself.

What changed was seeing him so anxious that he was hurting himself. I had to stop thinking about myself and focus on doing what I could to make life better for him.

Taking the vets advice and putting Mister Pickles on prozac was absolutely the right thing to do and I'm so glad I followed doctor's orders.

Aside from medication, how else do you manage Mister Pickles' anxiety?

When I leave the house I make sure Mister Pickles has his of toys, fresh water and chew treats with him in the yard. I also have a small radio near his kennel that plays classical music while I'm gone.

What are three traits you look for in a veterinarian?

I prefer to deal with an experienced, personable and caring vet. If you and your pet are being treated with empathy and compassion, this makes for a pleasant experience for everyone.

As visits to a vet can be expensive, I also think it's important to find a vet who doesn't make you feel like you're being given the most expensive option. If you feel like you're being ripped off, you're unlikely to take the vets advice or return.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about caring for the non-humans in your life?

My furkids teach me that unconditional love and adoration are what family is all about. They're all incredibly funny and interesting in different ways, great company and brilliant napping companions.

What could we do to make the world better for non-human animals?

There are many ways that animals need our help and because they don't have a voice, it's up to us to speak up for them.

On the blog I've written about adopting instead of buying in pet stores, Australia's cagedeggs and the horse racing industry. I also regularly donate to animal causes such as Animals Australia and RSPCA to support their campaigns and help spread the word wherever I can.

Foodie question: Vets are notoriously unhealthy eaters. Have you got any tips about easy-to-prepare, healthy snacks that can be munched between consults?

Eating well doesn't have to be difficult or take long! Things like this awesome cheesetoastie, potato, haloumi and greens salad, bruschetta two ways or a potato andsweet potato bake are quick and easy weeknight meals. [You can check out Tara's recipe index here].

Thank you Tara! If you want to find out more about Tara, check one or all of her channels:

Blog: http://vegetaraian.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/vegeTARAian

Twitter: @vegeTARAian

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vegetaraian/

Instagram: http://instagram.com/vegetaraian