There are a lot of things and situations that scare Gremlin. Most of the time he responds with aggression, but with some, particularly loud noises, he runs and hides. Noise phobias are very common in dogs and rare in cats. Between thunderstorms and firecrackers, summer time can be a scary season for our pets. With the Fourth of July on the horizon, firecrackers are already popping in my neighborhood, so I thought now would be a good time to talk about how you can help manage your pet's noise phobias.
Verbal and emotional support
It is very important not to punish your animal for being afraid. That isn't helping anything. It is equally important not to give them too much attention when they're afraid. I know that all you want to do is tell them that everything will be okay and that if you aren't afraid then they shouldn't be either. As much as we'd like them to, they don't understand and will only take this attention and affection as a sign that it's a good thing to be afraid of certain stimuli.
A peaceful hiding place
When Gremlin hides he likes to hide somewhere small, closed off and dark, it's sort of like a den of safety. His preferred "den" is our closet, in our clothes hamper. It meets all the criteria, plus it smells like us. Your scent can have a very calming effect on your dog, so no matter where they decide to hide, try giving them a t-shirt from the laundry hamper (maybe one that isn't too smelly).
Figure out where they usually like to hide and don't try to change it. It might not seem comfortable for you, but your animal has already tested the merits of the hiding spot. I have tried adding bedding to places where Gremmy has hidden in the past and it either drove him away or he laid right next to it. It's nice to be comfortable, but it's even better to feel safe, so adjust the spot according to your pet's preferences but without upsetting the balance.
If your animal is typically kennelled during these kinds of fear-inducing situations, try making the kennel an even safer place by covering it with a blanket to make it dark. The heavier the blanket the better since it will block out some sound too. This will most certainly lead to your pet overheating in the crate so with the blanket you'll need a fan.
If you have one of those rare cats who has a noise phobia you can try nesting cardboard boxes for kitty to hide in. You already know your cat likes to hide in boxes, so by nesting them you are insulating them from some of the noise. The same goes for cat owners as dog owners, figure out where they like to hide (more of a challenge for people with small or agile cats!) and either place the nested boxes there (if they fit) or just put a t-shirt down.
Distractors
A dog (or cat) is never as scared as they seem if they are willing to eat a treat. We used them in the clinic to gauge fear and serve as a nice distraction for the animal. You can use this as litmus test too! If you've noticed in the past that your animal was willing to play with a favorite toy or snack on a treat, then they are good candidates for distractions. Here are a few you can try:
Toys and treats are a fun way to distract a dog or cat that isn't that afraid of what's going on around them.
Leave the TV on something you would normally watch, unless you know your dog or cat likes something in particular. We had a cat that loved Sharknado.
Leave the radio on something relaxing. You can try finding a jazz, classical, or NPR station. Those oughta put them to sleep.
Play a calming CD. Gremlin would never admit it, but he can't resist the peaceful notes of his Through a Dog's Ear album. It's an hour of calming music, specifically designed for dogs. There are similar CDs for cats. Every time he gets a little robust or freaked out I turn on a lamp in a quiet room and play the CD. Before the second track is over, both Gremlin and our cat, Trout, will have made themselves comfortable and there is peace in the kingdom. Needless to say, I love those albums.
White noise whether by a noise machine or a fan can help to drown out or distract your pet from the sounds that have them scared.
Commercially Available Products
I haven't used any of these myself, but I wanted to be sure to give you the best information I could find. So I scoured the literature and found some helpful studies about some of the popular anti-anxiety products.
There are wraps that put gentle pressure on dogs that are used to reduce anxiety. They haven't been officially scientifically validated, but some early studies have shown that they can work for some dogs. There is a cape that you can put on your dog that will reduce the amount of electrical charge from the storm, but a placebo cape used in one study was shown to have the same calming effects as the charge reducing cape.
Drug Intervention
If your dog or cat is sent spiraling into an unmanageable amount of fear, where they become a danger to themselves or to others (including your home), then you'll need to talk to your veterinarian about sedatives that can be given before scary things happen. Your veterinarian will walk you through how and when to give the sedative. A trial run is important so you can gauge how it will affect them. Some sedatives can have the opposite effect on some dogs!
However you decide to game plan your Fourth of July or summer storms, I hope at least one of these works for your pet! I hope you and your pets have a fun and safe summer!
