KABOOM!

by Melian McKee
Staff Writer

Kaboom! To me, kaboom is the sound produced by the thunderstorms I love to watch roll over the mountain on a hot summer evening. A child might say that kaboom is the sound of fireworks on Independence Day and after the baseball game. To an English teacher, kaboom is the onomatopoeia for big bang. Unfortunately, your dog might tell you that kaboom is the sound that strikes terror in his heart.

Dogs of all sizes are often frightened by the loud rumblings and bangs produced by thunderstorms and fireworks. This fear can range from mild anxiety, where a dog might pin its ears back and hunker down under a desk, to all out terror. I have known dogs that will break through glass windows, tear apart furniture, and chew holes through drywall in their attempts to flee from the noise and vibration.

While the reason dogs develop this fear remains a mystery, if your dog suffers from thunder phobia, there are a number of safe and natural remedies and simple steps you can take to ease their suffering.

Aromatherapy

Our dogs, with their keen sense of smell, can benefit from the powerfully calming effects of essential oils, specifically those of lavender and ylang-ylang. When the weather man is calling for storms, or you know there is a fireworks display scheduled near your home, massage these oils into your dog’s ear tips and into the depression between their eyes just above their snout. Place a few drops of the oil on their collar and bedding, or use them in a home diffuser if you own one.

Homeopathy

Keep a bottle of Rescue Remedy in your summer medicine cabinet. This Bach flower remedy is safe and effective for the sudden-onset type of anxiety experienced by dogs with thunder phobia. Start by giving a dose at the first sign of a storm, and continue giving one dose every 30 minutes until the storm passes.

Herbal Remedies

If you’re concerned about a storm coming up while you are away at work, or the current weather pattern seems to call for at least a storm a day, calming herbs such as kava kava, passionflower, and chamomile, given on a regular basis, can give your dog a greater overall sense of calm. Administer a tincture of these herbs 2-3 times daily.

Create a Safe Place

Make a place especially for your dog where he can feel safer in the event of a storm. A crate, box, or other cave-like enclosed area (such as under a desk) can help them feel calmer. This “safe place” should be in a quiet area of the home, away from doors, windows, and activity. Placing rubber mats on the floor of your dog’s safe place can also be helpful. Some speculate that part of a dog’s fear of storms comes from the charged air that accompanies them and rug shocks from static electricity.

Incidentally, these remedies also work for other types of anxiety, such as a trip to the vet, a visit from your grandkids, or a sudden change in your pet’s life such as a move or new addition to the family. While your dog may not sit on the porch and enjoy the next summer squall with you, or beg you to take her to the fireworks on the 4th, with a few herbs, oils, and TLC you can weather any storm together.