We can expect this time of year to produce thunderstorms and occasionally there’s the potential for more severe weather. The best start to managing your pets’ storm anxiety is to be weather aware. Checkout the forecast ahead of time so that if there’s a chance of a storm, you are already planning on how to help your pet cope and to what degree. Every animal is different in their anxiety levels and triggers so some pets may not be affected by storms while others will benefit from one or a combination of the following tips. It is best to try these methods out before a storm or anxiety trigger to see which is most beneficial for your pet.
Provide a Positivity Storm Inside
Offering fun, positive distractions can help shelter your pet from the stress of the storm. Turning up the TV or music is a good way to help with some of the noise storms produce. There are even specific TV shows made just for your pet with calming visuals and sounds. Checkout Youtube to explore some pet worthy binge watching! A high-value treat like a frozen peanut butter Kong can also provide a rewarding distraction. Redirecting their mental focus to a brain game like a puzzle using their favorite snack as a reward might outshine those storm blues. Checkout our Pinterest page https://www.pinterest.com/waysidewaifs/ for some fun DIY projects for your pet!
ThunderShirts
Similar to swaddling an infant the ThunderShirt can help make your dog feel more secure by applying a gentle, constant pressure. Research suggests that this type of pressure can release a calming hormone like oxytocin or endorphins. It’s advised to remove the Thundershirt for about 10 minutes every 1 to 2 hours to avoid irritation. This is a drug free, training free method that is over 80% effective.
Calming Treats
This is a safe, natural way to provide anxiety relief and reduce stress using herbs and vitamins. There are a lot of different brands that offer calming treats for your pets so be sure to do your research in selecting the right one for your pet. PetNaturals is a tried and true brand at Wayside Waifs and is available for purchase in our Whiskers and Wags retail store.
Other Calming Remedies
Wayside stays a step ahead in caring for our Waifs by anticipating the anxiety as a result of being in the shelter environment. We use different forms of a product called Adaptil which produces a copy of the natural pheromone produced by the mother dog a few days after giving birth. It gives her puppies a feeling of safety and comfort and also benefits adult dogs by providing a feeling of reassurance. At the shelter and in foster we utilize Adaptil wall plug-in diffusers, collars, and sprays to help ease anxiety of the animals in our care.
In severe cases, your vet may advise medication to help ease your pets anxiety. Always consult with your vet with questions and concerns surrounding your pet’s physical and mental health. All pets are different in what works for them and your vet may be able to better direct the route to take to best manage your pet’s care.