Recent HomeoPet Articles

Behavior Problems in Pets - Fear of Fireworks

Storm Phobia in Pets

Pet Anxiety and Phobias

Behavior Problems in Pets - Fear of Fireworks

Behavior Problems in Pets
Fear of Fireworks

That a dog (or person) can be startled when surprised by a sudden loud noise is quite normal, as is an immediate fear response such as increased alertness and rapid heart rate.  A show of fear when startled is a normal adaptive response that prepares a dog (or any species) to escape from a possible threat to its safety.  In the natural state, this is a useful and possibly life-saving reflex.  However in pets, the feeling and display of fear is usually not needed and can sometimes become harmful. 

A dog’s excessive fear, or phobia, is damaging to its welfare.  The behaviors that result from the fear, such as trembling, whimpering, panting, constantly seeking the owners attention (or protection), and attempting to escape from the noise, can cause injury to the dog and are stressful to the owner.  This can be particularly frustrating when a pet over-reacts to fireworks even though it is clear that the stimulus that caused the problem is temporary and clearly of no threat. 

A fear of fireworks, and of loud noises generally, is common in dogs and other pets, and in many cases is accompanied by other anxieties, such as thunderstorm phobia or separation anxiety.  Dogs with multiple anxieties appear be predisposed to such fears. 

For many dogs, the age at which such a phobia develops is not known.  Sometimes, even with older dogs, it can originate from being exposed to a sudden loud noise that is particularly disturbing.  Some pets may have been exposed to stressful or loud noises when still very young, leaving a lasting bad memory.  For fireworks, it may not be just the noise causing the problem—it may the flash of light that accompanies the loud noise, or the strong sulfur smell that comes after the explosion, or it may be the suddenness or the frequency of the noise (eg an explosion or a screeching rocket). 

An unfortunate difference between people and dogs who suffer from phobias is that in people we can ask questions and discuss and identify the root of the problem.  This can be important in getting to a solution.  Usually in dogs we cannot know how or when the phobia started, and so must work with the tools we have to help find a solution. 

The most important aspect of solving a dog phobia problem is to manage and decondition the behavior.  Veterinarians and clinic staff to whom the owner turns for advice need to be able to advise the owner on what should and should not be done.  In educating the owner it is important to remember that the goal is to change the pet’s association with the fireworks from negative–and frightening–to neutral, through a process of gradual desensitization.

What owners should do to help their dog is not as clear as what they should not do.  The first step is to avoid doing anything that reinforces the behavior.  For instance, if the dog runs away and escapes the noise, that behavior is reinforced.  Similarly, the fear response will be reinforced if an owner rewards the behavior with extra attention to the dog through stroking it, or trying to reassure it in any other way.  The opposite approach of becoming angry or reproaching the dog will also be counterproductive. One tactic that may be useful is playing a game with the dog to distract it from the fireworks, or having it play with another dog (as long as the other dog does not have the same fear). 
Because it is beyond most owners to make the commitment to change what are usually strongly established canine behaviors, a veterinarian can dispense various products to help alleviate these phobias.  Regrettably, the treatments that are available for dog phobias are very limited, none have been proven to work completely, and there are no drugs registered to treat fireworks phobias in dogs.  Treatments for fear of fireworks fall into two broad categories—drugs and alternative therapies such as dog appeasing pheromone and homeopathic treatments.

The drugs most commonly discussed in treating fear of fireworks include benzodiazepines, the alpha-adrenergic propanolol (generally administered with phenobarbitone), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).  All of these have possible side effects, such as lethargy and sedation, some may cause vomiting and none have really been proven to work in relieving the fear of fireworks.  In the case of SSRIs and TCAs, treatment needs to be started weeks ahead of the stimulus that causes the phobia.  In many cases, this is just not practical.  Acepromazine is not recommended because of the sedation it can produce, and it can also sensitize the dog to sound, potentially making the problem worse.  In contrast, natural homeopathic remedies do not cause side effects and have received promising reports. 

Homeopathy is a traditional area of medicine that has become established over centuries of use, and now appears to be making a resurgence in veterinary medicine.  The leader in veterinary homeopathic remedies is HomeoPet, and reports suggest that its product TFLN has produced substantial improvement in dogs suffering from a fear of fireworks.  This is the only treatment for fear of fireworks that has been tested in a placebo-controlled study, described in a report by veterinary behaviorists in the Veterinary Journal.1  In this study, compared with baseline, TFLN produced a significant improvement in the severity of behavioral signs (Figure 1).

An interesting finding in this study was that the owners of dogs who received a placebo were instructed on how to manage their dog’s fear.  Just this good advice alone was followed by a significant improvement: improvement that is consistent with the placebo response generally seen in behavior studies in dogs. 

Figure 1. The percentage of placebo-treated dogs and dogs treated with a homeopathic remedy (TFLN) that showed improvement in their dog’s fear of fireworks  

The improvement reported after starting TFLN matches the results of a survey of dog owners who used a slightly different HomeoPet product designed to treat anxiety.  In this survey, 25 of the treated dogs suffered from more than one anxiety, one of which was either fear of fireworks and/or fear of loud noises.   Of those 25 dogs, the owners reported that 23 (92%) benefited from treatment (Figure 2).  These owners indicated that they would use the product again, providing substantial evidence for the client satisfaction that can come from use of HomeoPet products.

Figure 2. Response to use of HomeoPet Anxiety (a similar product to TFLN) based on survey responses of 25 owners of dogs that suffered from fear of fireworks and at least one other anxiety problem.

Regardless of the treatment used to reduce a pet’s fear of fireworks and loud noises, it is important to recognize that a single approach is very rarely adequate.  Any treatment should be combined with every possible effort to institute constructive behavioral modification that can improve the welfare of the pet and reduce the stress on the pet and owner alike.

Cracknell NR, Mills DS. A double-blind placebo-controlled study into the efficacy of a homeopathic remedy for fear of firework noises in the dog (Canis familiaris). Vet J. In press

Author Tom Farrington MVB MRCVS VetMFHom

Storm Phobia in Pets

Storm Phobia in Pets

By Tom Farrington MVB MRCVS VetMFHom

Phobias are excessive, unreasonable and intense fears of objects or situations that usually pose little or no actual danger.  In the case of storm phobias, pets display both nervous and behavioral signs that may worsen as a storm intensifies.   Nervous phobia signs include one or more of panting, shaking, dilated pupils, excessive salivation, and loss of bladder control, bowel control, or both (see Table).  Behavioral signs can be as simple as whining or crying, and can also include obsessive seeking of human companionship for comfort and reassurance or just to be in the vicinity of the owner.  Hiding is common in storm phobic dogs and is the most common sign seen in cats.  Selected hiding places are often dark and den-like (for instance a kennel, closet, or behind furniture).   For reasons not fully understood, some dogs favor hiding in a bathroom, perhaps because ionized bathroom air is more calming.  Frantic barking, destruction, and attempts to escape, are also described in storm phobic dogs.

Behavioral and nervous signs that dogs and cats may show when storms threaten or are in process. 

It is more accurate to describe the condition as storm, rather than thunderstorm phobia because the phobia can develop in the absence of thunder, arising in response to one or more of a combination of rain, sleet, strong wind, changes in illumination from lightning flashes, and even snow.    Some dogs may begin to show behavioral signs of storm phobia well before a storm actually arrives, or even when there is a nearby storm of which the owner is unaware.  These signs may be restlessness, pacing or whining and could be a response to a sudden drop in barometric (air) pressure or change in the electrical charge of the air.  

The more frequently a pet reacts to the anxiety-provoking stimulus, the worse and more rapid the response may become, so the owner is faced with an growing problem with no easy solution. These fear behaviors can escalate to panic, causing dogs to be seriously injured in their attempts to escape what they perceive to be severe danger.  Phobic dogs have been known to break through screened or glass doors or windows. Household damage also results from the pet biting and scratching doors, carpets, drapes, furniture and other items. 

Dogs rescued from shelters have may be at greater risk than non-rescue dogs for developing storm phobias.  Herding dogs, particularly German shepherds, Labrador retrievers and golden retrievers appear to be over-represented among dogs with various phobias, perhaps linked to their inherently anxious temperaments.  Although many dogs with storm phobias do not have any other anxiety-related problems, it is quite common for storm phobia to be accompanied by separation anxiety, and there may also be a phobia of loud noises.  Dogs with fearful personalities are predisposed to storm phobias which can result from genetics, from early aversive experiences or from inadequate socialization as puppies.  Dogs with well adjusted temperaments and no history of early changes in home or aversive experiences can also be affected.    Phobic signs are typically first seen in dogs between 1 and 5 years of age, although many dogs may be less than 12 months old at the time the problem begins. 
Obviously upsetting for the pet, storm phobias are a problem from an animal welfare perspective.  Additionally, the behavior shown by the pet, especially dogs, is extremely upsetting for owners, who are distressed by their pet’s anxiety and by the resulting damage inflicted on their homes.  Failure to effectively manage these phobias can have an unfortunate effect on the owner-pet bond and lead to pet abandonment, placement in a shelter or alternate home or even, in the severest cases, to euthanasia.

Storm phobia is considered a particularly difficult fear to treat.   Typically in behavioral problems, desensitization is very helpful.  Desensitization involves repeatedly exposing the pet to the threatening stimulus at a controlled level, which is below the threshold that initiates the phobia.  As the pet becomes accustomed to the low-level threat, exposure is repeated at gradually increasing levels in a manner that does not produce the signs of phobia.  However, owners who live in areas where storms are common may be unable to isolate their pet from storms during the desensitization period, and so desensitization alone is not adequate.  

There are no pharmacologic treatments registered to treat storm phobias.  Some drugs have been tried off-label, including benzodiapines and acepromazine, although the latter may sometimes make the signs worse.  Anti-anxiety drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (eg fluoxetine) and tricyclic antidepressants (clomipramine) have also been used, but have a drawback in that treatment must begin 2 or more weeks before the phobia-initiating stimulus.  All drugs carry a risk of side effects, typically excessive sedation, and some may cause vomiting and other problems.  In treating storm phobia, drug adverse effects may be avoided by using alternative therapies, such as homeopathic remedies or dog appeasing pheromone (DAPÒ).  DAP is a synthetic mixture of compounds which match post-partum secretions of the sebaceous glands, and that are delivered by an electronic diffuser.  Homeopathy involves giving very small doses of remedies that would produce the same or similar symptoms of illness in healthy pets if they were given in larger doses.   A recent survey of owners using a homeopathic product (HomeoPet AnxietyTM) found a positive response in 34 of 36 (94.4%) dogs treated for storm phobia (see Figure 1).  An important benefit that emerged in the survey was that there were no adverse reactions to the homeopathic remedy.  This safety profile, combined with the favorable post treatment alleviation in signs of phobia, may account for the high level of client satisfaction that has been reported with HomeoPet Anxiety.

Figure 1. Percentage of storm phobic dogs in levels of improvement after treatment with HomeoPet AnxietyTM.  Grading was completed by each dog’s owner on a scale of -5 (much worse) to 0 (no change) to +5 (much better or completely cured).

References and Additional Reading

Crowell-Davis SL, Seibert LM, Sung W, Parthasarathy V, Curtis TM.  Use of clomipramine, alprazolam, and behavior modification for treatment of storm

phobia in dogs. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2003 Mar 15;222(6):744-8.

McCobb EC, Brown EA, Damiani K, Dodman NH. Thunderstorm phobia in dogs: an Internet survey of 69 cases. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2001 Jul-Aug;37(4):319-24.

Overall KL, Dunham AE, Frank D. Frequency of nonspecific clinical signs in dogs with separation anxiety, thunderstorm phobia, and noise phobia, alone or in combination. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2001 Aug 15;219(4):467-73.

Simpson BS, Papich MG.Pharmacologic management in veterinary behavioral medicine. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2003 Mar;33(2):365-404, vii.

Pet Anxiety and Phobias

Pet Anxiety and Phobias

By Tom Farrington, MVB MRCVS Vet MFHom

Common Stressors that Produce Anxiety in Pets 

The fear response involves a variety of areas in the brain and comes from an instinctive alarm system that results in a reflex of either confrontation or self protection (“fight or flight”).  In the case of an event (stimulus) that the pet finds intensely fearful, anxiety is increased and a deep seated, lasting memory of the stimulus is buried in its brain.  When the stimulus is repeated, the pet is unable to make a conscious decision and adopts a fight or flight response.  In many cases, it may not be just the stimulus itself, but signs that precede it that initiate the fear response. 

Figure 1. Results of a survey of Australian owners of 113 dogs and 29 cats that were prescribed HomeoPet Anxiety by their veterinarians to treat anxiety in their pets  

While study results indicate that HomeoPet Anxiety may provide substantial improvement in phobias experienced by pets, it remains important to recognize that pet anxiety problems are often deep seated in the brain.  Full correction of such ingrained problems also requires a patient approach by the owner.  Owners need to understand that an inappropriate response they make toward their pet, such as aversive correction techniques or punishment, might cause an unpleasant outcome.  Similarly, because pet’s are sensitive to an owner’s frame of mind, an owner’s anxiety will reinforce a pet’s anxiety problem.  Attempts to calm the pet may also be perceived as a reward to the pet for displaying a fear response.  Thus true correction of the problem requires an understanding of behavioral changes that will help the pet, including techniques (such as counter conditioning and desensitization) that teach the pet a different and acceptable response to the stimulus that provokes its fear.  It is important in utilizing these techniques that the owner remain calm and relaxed.