HELP!!! Anybody know how to help...

[Dinglebellelives]

Our black lab, who is almost five has within the last year decided that she is scared to death of thunder. She goes crazy when the thunder starts by whining real loud, then pacing real fast around the house, and don't you dare be sitting down when the thunder starts as she pushes her 100 lb. body into your lap and then tries to get as close to your body as humanly possible. A couple of times, I just happened to be laying down when this happened and she about squashed me to death, I just could not get her to get off of me. It was very unpleasant to say the least.

We have tried calming her down by talking to her, going on the front porch with her while the thunder is happening, so she can see nothing is going to happen to her, we have tried giving her snacks and playing with her to distract her, but it just does not work.

By the time the thunder has stopped, she is a nervous wreak, from the heavy panting and all the walking she does. We even tried turning up the television to make the thunder less audible, but it doesn't work.

I don't know why she all of a sudden got scared of thunder, but she shouldn't be afraid of it as my granddaughter makes enough noise of all kinds around this house to equal that of a thunderstorm. lol

I forgot to mention that the dog also will not let you out of her sight during the storm and will block any doorway you try to go through with her body and will bolt into the room you are going into, even the bathroom.

This has become a real issue for us as it has rained here almost everyday this summer and she is NOT getting over it.

I am afraid she is going to give herself a heart attack over this.

Anybody else have/had a dog with this problem? If so, how do/did you deal with it? How did you overcome it, if you did?

This dog, whom is a true family member is one step away from being disowned.

Belle

[Tamster]

Belle...

Sometimes we have dogs that stay at the kennel that take medication if it is going to storm..I believe it is called Clomicalm.....

[skyrider]

We haven't heard thunder during all of choppers life, so, I am clueless, but good for a bump!

[skyrider]

Tamster, Bump yoru thread...Oh fuck it, I will, so she can see what you deal with all the time..

[ivegotflyingmonkeys]

Call your vet... they will be able to give you medication for her. It should knock her out during the storms, or at least make her loopy enough that it doesn't bother her. You can keep it on hand and give it to her as necessary.

Dogs don't understand that it can't hurt them.. and if she's this scared, she may never get over it. You vet will be able to help her.

Good luck!

[skyrider]

Call your vet... they will be able to give you medication for her. It should knock her out during the storms, or at least make her loopy enough that it doesn't bother her. You can keep it on hand and give it to her as necessary.

Dogs don't understand that it can't hurt them.. and if she's this scared, she may never get over it. You vet will be able to help her.

Good luck!

But she will come running for her drug every time the relative humidity goes up!

[mopho]

Call your vet... they will be able to give you medication for her. It should knock her out during the storms, or at least make her loopy enough that it doesn't bother her. You can keep it on hand and give it to her as necessary.

Dogs don't understand that it can't hurt them.. and if she's this scared, she may never get over it. You vet will be able to help her.

Good luck!

But she will come running for her drug every time the relative humidity goes up!

I had an X-Wife that was that way. Humidity did not matter though, it was an every day thing.
We give meds to our dogs on the 4th of July since the neighborhood is full of hoods that set of rockets, exploding fireworks, etc.
and it totally freaks out our Poms.
It works, too. They stumble around for a while, then go to sleep. It's called Acepromazine 10mg. Our little dogs get a 1/2 a pill every 8 hours. So you will need to see the Vet to get the prescription.

[cr0ak]

A former boss of mine had 3 Goldens that when it started to storm, they got so worked up they actually chewed through some of the drywall in the house! (I saw some of the damage that they did.)

I don't think it's so much the noise as it is the feeling... I think dogs are just hyper-sensitive to the shock-waves from the lightning/thunder. Or maybe it's the scent of the storm that upsets them, since their sense of smell is so much more acute than ours is. But, obviously, I could be wrong.

[hippie-memories]

Rescue Remedy, it's a natural product.

I have a small dog OB, that does the same thing. The key is ignore, ignore, ignore. If you baby the dog you are only reinforcing the behavior.

[Fredi*Frogi]

CJ does this, tho he hides, under the bed, under the covers and he tries to get under me! LOL i've got it easy tho, lol CJ weighs 10lbs soaking wet! LOL

i've learned to ignore him and its seemed to help...tho i think in your case that's impossible!

I'd try one of those white noise machines...and some light meds from the vet...

good luck!

[Dinglebellelives]

Thanks for all of your advice....I was hoping not to have to medicate her.....but if that will work, I'm for it.
This is normally a very good dog, except when the thunder comes.....she is not afraid of the rain as she will go out in it
to do her business, but if it thunders, get outta da way, fast!!! lol

It's odd to me that I have three small dogs that this big dog grew up with and the thunder does not bother the little dogs at all.

Thanks again everyone.....I can't give up on her, not now, not after I went to all the trouble to teach her how to chew bubble gum, yes bubble gum.
lol I can't get her to blow a bubble though. lol

[mopho]

http://www.kbvetcenter.com/toxicity_bubblegum.asp

[Tamster]

Call your vet... they will be able to give you medication for her. It should knock her out during the storms, or at least make her loopy enough that it doesn't bother her. You can keep it on hand and give it to her as necessary.

Dogs don't understand that it can't hurt them.. and if she's this scared, she may never get over it. You vet will be able to help her.

Good luck!

But she will come running for her drug every time the relative humidity goes up!

I had an X-Wife that was that way. Humidity did not matter though, it was an every day thing.
We give meds to our dogs on the 4th of July since the neighborhood is full of hoods that set of rockets, exploding fireworks, etc.
and it totally freaks out our Poms.

I so screwed that up....maybe after I sleep I can make sense lol..,

ACE! taht the stuff! We dont take dogs that take ACE!!!!!!!
It works, too. They stumble around for a while, then go to sleep. It's called Acepromazine 10mg. Our little dogs get a 1/2 a pill every 8 hours. So you will need to see the Vet to get the prescription.