Why are Dogs Scared of Thunder?

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Does your canine friend cry or tremble during bad weather or even go into a complete panic upon hearing the first clap of thunder? In our latest blog we take a look at why our dogs fear bad weather, storms and the noises that go with them and what we, as dog owners can do to combat the problem.

March and April this year has brought with it the cliché sunshine and showers weather so common here in the UK during Spring time. Alongside this we have experienced some thunderstorms which to some of our canine friends can be terror inducing.

According to experts our dogs may be afraid of thunder due to the following;

A traumatic life event involving loud noises, can affect our canines after which loud noises, such as the sound of thunder can act as a trigger for fearfulness of this previous event resulting in anxiety.

  • Our canine counterparts typically have far more superior hearing than our own with humans being able to hear 20 to 20,000 Hertz whereas our dogs capable of 40 to 60,000 Hertz so depth of sound and pitch may sound different to our dogs than to ourselves especially the low frequency of the sound of thunder.
  • Some dogs are simply genetically predisposed towards 'noise anxiety' whereas for some canines as they get older and some hearing loss occurs the loud bangs of thunder may be frightening.

If your dog is scared of thunder he may display symptoms such as; shaking, panting, hiding, barking or bolting or running away in an erratic manner.  

Scientific Nutritional Products’ Five Tips to Help your Dog Cope with Thunderstorms

 1.) Distract your dog from the noise by having other noises in place such as the TV or the radio. You can also draw your curtains, helping to create a safe, warm environment.

2.) Make a safe den for your dog to retreat to if he or she feels scared. If your dog goes and hides himself away don’t try and tempt them out if they have found a comfy spot- remember the old saying… ‘let sleeping dogs lie’?

3.) If possible try to acclimatise your canine to the sound of thunderstorms. CDs are available from online retailers and these can be played at low volume to try to desensitise your dog. Always exercise this method with caution and if it does excessively distress your dog to play the CDS it may not be beneficial.

4.) Don’t walk your dog during thunderstorms or bad weather if he is fearful or assume your garden is escape proof. If your dog is scared they are much more inclined to try and escape and potential injure themselves.

5.) If your dog is really struggling with fear of storms and the noise of thunder why not visit your veterinarian and see what they can offer to help or consult an animal behaviourist or an experienced dog training instructors.

To view our range of Horse Supplements and Dog Joint Supplements including Glucosamine for Dogs available to purchase online from Scientific Nutritional Products visit our website www.horsesupplementsdirect.co.uk or Tel: 01377 254900 to speak to a member of our friendly team. Visit the website or our Facebook page to keep up with our informative, weekly blog looking at a range of equine and canine issues.

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