Spring is upon us, and at our house that means staying up late with a fearful dog.

I don't coddle her or even acknowledge her when she is like this, but I do stay with her and let her lay under my feet.

It seems like she is getting worse about it though, even with very little thunder in the distance she is shaking so bad it she can barely walk, is drooling, and her breathing is really shallow.

Tonight is even't really a thunderstorm, just rain with a little bit of lightning, the real storms are supposed to hit later this weekend and into next week.

At the first hint of lightning I gave her a dose of acepromazine but it takes too long to kick in, and I had no idea the rain/storms were coming this time so I didn't get it in her fast enough.

I have read that sometimes xanax is used to help dogs with phobias and might ask the vet about something different to help her. Has anyone used this on a phobic dog?

During the 4th of July she has to stay at the vet under heavy sedatives but I don't know what they use.

Hi,

I have Xanax for my dog. His thunderstorm/fireworks phobia appeared when he was around 5 and has been getting worse as he ages as well.

I finally went to the vet last spring to get him Xanax, and it has worked. It isn't anything drastic....he's still stressed throughout storms and fireworks, but it takes the frantic edge off.

Mind you, your dog sounds worse than mine, but maybe he'll just need a higher dose? I would ask your vet about it for sure. Hopefully you find something that works....it's no fun watching our guys be terrified.

you may want to try one of these products

http://leerburg.com/72.htm (given as needed)

http://leerburg.com/75.htm (given daily and needs to be given for up to 20 days before the effects are apparent)

I wouldn't use a drug like Xanax without exhausting all the possibilities first. I worked for a vet for many years and I'm not a fan of Ace either.

I have a dog with thunderstorm anxiety and use Rescue Remedy and a crate, and it works for her. Like many dogs she's gotten worse as she ages (she's 8 now)

I second what Cindy said about Rescue Remedy and the crate. I had a dog that was very thunderphobic and this helped a lot. I also accidentally found these to be helpful too. My dog was wearing them for another purpose (outdoor concert) when we got hit by a storm. Muffling some of the noise seemed to help a bit with the fear.

I do agree with trying other options first, and I've heard many success stories with Rescue Remedy. I tried both RR and melatonin, and neither had any effect on my dog.

However, I did not try them in combination with the crate, which might make a big difference. I finally crate trained my dog this year, so I will definitely try out the RR again with the crate.

Thanks for reminding me of this!

Have you tried any counter-conditioning, using (I guess) recordings of the bad noises?

I have done counter-conditioning/desensitizing work and found it slow and demanding but extremely rewarding.

I would be happy to share what I have done or give you some material if you think you are up to it.

I was fortunate enough to have the "bad" thing always available to use in the work, which is why I can only guess that this case would require a recording.

Anyone else have experience in this area?

P.S. I am not knowledgeable about Eastern herb therapy, but I emailed a friend who had a twenty-year medical practice (acupuncture and Chinese herbs) and she liked the ingredients here:
http://leerburg.com/75.htm

I would probably start it now.

I agree....Do not use any type of psychotropic drugs on animals or humans. Look up the side effects and what they are. Before these drugs, LSD one of the first, basic seditives where used. They are still around if needed. You always have to ask for the seditive not to be psychotropic. The lady with the chimp that took the face off her friend is thought to have given this type of drug to the chimp while they drank tea. You never know how anyone or any animal will react to a mind altering drug and they are extremely hard to come off of if you have problems with them.
Google psychotropic drug side effects before considering Xanax. Call a holistic vet and ask if they know of any natural remedies and try one.

I don't like to use medicine if I don't have to, but I honestly worry she is going to have a stroke or heart attack out of sheer panic.

I tried rescue remedy and it didn't help, I have also tried lavender diffusers, melatonin and chamomile.

She was never crate trained, but will go and stay in a crate if I tell her too, she doesn't like it though.

She wants to be under me more than anything, so she either crawls under the desk where I sit or between me and the coffee table, under my feet.

We tried counter conditioning and it didn't help, I got a thunderstorm tape and played it every day for her starting with it very soft and gradually adding volume.

Even when I reached the level of it being so loud it bothered me she didn't react. It just wasn't the same.

Its not just the noise that bothers her, its the changes in pressure, the flashes of lightning, and the sonic booms that go along with the storms.

She is also afraid of fireworks and shotgun shots.

I've tried giving her roast or raw steak during the storms and she won't eat, she also won't play ball, won't take a kong or a bone.

There are days when I see her shaking and drooling and I will go to check the weather and the storms are still halfway across the state....I have no idea what she senses that far away, but she does.

The fear is so bad she has lost control of her bladder and will throw up. It is just awful for her. Any medication would only be used as needed and generally only for a few months out of the year do we get these really intense super cell storms.

I am willing to let her be afraid at the level she was last night, but when we have thunder rattling the windows, hail the size of golfballs and tornado sirens going off less than a block away, sometimes several times a week, it is awful hard on her.

Do you have a large walk in closet that you can make sound proof? Here is a web site that tells how to do it. I love old dogs. I hope you can make her confortable without drugging her.

http://www.ehow.com/how_15992_soundproof-room.html