Many dogs suffer from anxiety whether it is from loud noises, people, other dogs, children, bicycles and the list goes on and on. How they develop these anxieties varies. Sometimes it's the unintentional actions of the owner who is not aware they are encouraging a behaviour, sometimes it's an unfortunate, negative experience and sometimes, although rarely, it is just the dog's nature.
My girl, Tailey, was fine with everything until I went on vacation one summer and left her with a friend whose dog was afraid of thunder. When I got back Tailey was also afraid of thunder and she remained afraid of loud noises from then on, until the day she passed away.
Thankfully, there are a variety of products available which can be used to ease your dog's anxiety, but because all dogs are individuals, it will be a matter of trial and error to find the right product for your pooch!
Bach Rescue Remedy
Rescue Remedy is a well known, trusted product and has been used by pet owners for many years. Rescue Remedy is a blend of five different Bach Flower Remedies and is safe and gentle to use on your pet in times of stress. You can purchase this product directly from The Pawsitive Wellness Shop!
PetAlive - PetCalm
PetCalm from PetAlive is a safe, non-addictive 100% natural homeopathic remedy registered with the FDA and formulated especially for pets, to relieve acute symptoms of fear and nervousness, helping to calm and soothe your pet back to balanced mood. The convenient, dissolvable granules are safe and easy to administer, have a pleasant taste and can simply be sprinkled on your pet's tongue where they will be rapidly absorbed in the mouth. PetCalm can also be purchased at The Pawsitive Wellness Shop!
The Thunder Shirt
When my dog, Tailey, was very ill, just before she passed away, she began having panic attacks in the middle of the night. It was a very scary experience, for both of us I have to assume, and we had many sleepless nights. I purchased a Thunder Shirt although I was skeptical about it's effectiveness. The next time Tailey began to have one of her attacks I immediately put the Thunder Shirt on her. She calmed down within seconds, fell asleep and we never looked back. I was selling the Thunder Shirt at work as well and customer after customer came back with the same results, whether their dog was fearful of thunder, fireworks, driving in the car or just plain nervous, the Thunder Shirt was making a difference. You can purchase the Thunder Shirt for dogs or cats directly from their site: http://www.thundershirt.com/
Other products used for easing your pets' anxiety are pheromone collars, sprays and plug-ins. Several of these products are available for cats and dogs, with varying degrees of success reported by owners.
Certain herbs can also be used to calm your pet and as I have mentioned in previous posts, any time you are going to use a herb or natural product on your pet, make sure you do your research and ask your veterinarian.
Valerian is a herb I have used for many years for my dogs, which works very well. Naturpet makes a product specifically for pets called Home Alone, which contains Valerian root along with other calming herbs. Naturpet is located in British Columbia, Canada and all of their products are manufactured there as well.
Using a tiny bit of lavender essential oil on your pet's collar or near their bed can also help calm their nerves during stressful times.
Although many trainers state you should not pay attention to fears in your pet, I disagree. No parent would ever turn their back on their fearful child and leave them to deal with it. A gentle pat or stroke and a calm and gentle tone to let them know you are there and they are safe is more than alright.
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