Monday, February 24

Pet Articles

Pet Articles

Understanding Panic Attack In Dogs

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 12:33 AM PST

Panic attack in dogs comes on suddenly and can be triggered by booming noises such as the sharp sound of gun shots, fireworks or even rumbling thunder. The fight or flight instinct kicks in big-time, but since fighting an invisible entity is not possible, some dogs will panic and blindly run for survival. For dogs who are protected within a fenced yard or confined inside a building, there is nowhere for them to go. So they turn all of that "flight" energy into outward detrimental behavior or they internalize it, causing severe shaking, whining, panting, and raised heart rate.

No one really understands why some dogs experience these panic attacks and others show no signs of anxiety during the same circumstances. In a home of two or more dogs, one may sleep right through a powerful thunderstorm, while another dog has a panic attack and seems to be totally lost within its fear.

If you have adopted a rescued dog, its previous history may be unattainable. It could have included some type of incident that caused a deathly fear of certain situations or abrasive sounds. If only they could tell us. On second thought, I'm not sure I would want to know. Anyway, you may never know the reason behind the panic, but it's really not as important as helping your dog learn to relax rather than react.

I honestly believe that a panic attack in dogs is much the same as it is in people. I don't believe we really understand why a number of people suffer from panic attacks and yet others don't. Fortunately for us, humans are able to seek out guidance to help us conquer our anxieties.

Dogs don't have any methods or dealing with an anxiety or panic attack. They have no means of working through it or of understanding how to overcome this panic they are experiencing.

That is where we, as their caretakers, must intervene and find methods to help overcome this panic attack in dogs.

To begin with, I have to emphasize the necessity of not chastising your dog for running away or destroying something during a panic attack. Your dog is reacting to something he doesn't understand. By punishing him you will be adding to the already high level of anxiety your dog is experiencing, possibly escalating any further episodes.

I do believe that a dog who has undergone some obedience dog training will have an advantage over an untrained dog in that your trained dog may be able to be distracted from its fear somewhat by obedience commands. This is not always the case with extreme anxiety, because it does seem to dominate any previous training, but with mild cases of panic attack, distraction with obedience work may help.

Sedatives are one option for calming a panic attack in dogs. This is not a method I would recommend because it doesn't solve the problem. It will only temporarily mask the situation. Your dog will be listless and debilitated for a few hours and each dog may react a little differently to each sedative.

Some sedatives will slow down your dog's reactions yet not calm the panic within. He will still experience the distress caused by the noise or other stimulant without being able to do anything about it. If you have tried other options that have failed and decide to use a sedative, please do some research on the side effects of the specific sedative you will be using.

The ultimate goal is to help your dog defeat its terror and get through a nerve wracking event without the anxiety that has plagued him in the past.

Another tool for helping overcome a panic attack in dogs is the anxiety wrap. You can find this as the Original Anxiety Wrap and the Thundershirt. The anxiety wrap is a snugly fitting shirt that exerts deep touch pressure on pressure points to soothe a dog during stress. It is similar to the swaddling of an infant to help it feel secure. This does not work for every dog or every stressful situation, but it may help many dogs. Some are helped immediately, others might take several times of using the anxiety wrap to slowly lessen the extreme panic they have experienced so many times.

One other option for helping your dog to get over its extreme fear is by gradually exposing it to the very thing that terrifies it, such as rolling thunder. You would begin with a tape recording of thunder. Play it at a very low level, offering your dog treats, to play ball, to dance around and have fun. Your dog will learn to associate fun things with the noise it has previously deemed terrifying. Increase the stimulation gradually, but not until your dog has accepted each level with no signs of anxiety.

There are a number of options to work through a panic attack in dogs. There really is no reason to simply watch your dog deal with the terror it feels. It may take some research, seeking advice from trainers and an abundance of patience, but it will be worth it on that day when you are in the middle of a thunderstorm and your dog is lying peacefully on its bed.

About the Author

Karleen Lindsey has worked with dogs for many years. In her work fostering rescue dogs and in her grooming career, she has observed many behavior issues. She works extensively to help each dog break through the barriers of fear and anti-social behavior, with patience being the primary key to success. To learn more, visit her site at http://www.anxietywrapreviews.com.

A Good Night's Sleep: A Guide to Dog Beds

Posted: 24 Feb 2014 12:54 AM PST

Beds are one of the most important pieces of furniture you can own. Their comfort level allows you to get a good night's sleep and wake up to be productive and energetic the following day. The same goes for your dog. While many people don't realize it, your dog can develop health problems or have trouble sleeping if not given the proper bedding. There are several factors you must consider when looking at dog beds, different types to choose from, and different methods of purchasing them.

Size Does Matter

One vital factor you must consider when selecting a bed for your dog is your dog's size. If the bed is too small for your dog, this could create a problem. Your dog might wind up lying partially on his bedding and partially on the hard floor. Just as you wouldn't want to lie halfway off your bed, your dog wouldn't want to either. This can create soreness the next day, and over a longer period of time, can lead to bone and joint problems that your pup just shouldn't have to endure. If you have a medium, large of extra large breed, you will need to make sure that you find an appropriate sized bed that is large enough for your dog to lie on and move around a little bit. One other factor you must consider for a smaller dog is giving them too much space. If a smaller dog has a bed that is kept in a kennel, the dog may be tempted to urinate on the bed if it is too big. Sometimes if dogs are given too much space in their kennel, and if the bed is much bigger than the portion they are actually lying on, the dog will use part of the bed as a restroom. While this isn't common, it does happen from time to time.

Special Needs

Besides size, another important thing to consider are the specific needs that your dog has. If you have a puppy or an extremely healthy younger dog, most any well-padded bed will do just fine. Some older dogs, or dogs that have developed bone of joint problems, may need a little extra care from their bed. Make sure that if your dog has any sort of bone or joint problems, or has exhibited any signs of them, you take him to the veterinarian to get everything checked out. In some instances, a vet might recommend an orthopedic dog bed. These are available in all shapes and sizes and are soft and moldable for the best possible comfort your dog could imagine. Even if your pet doesn't necessarily need an orthopedic bed right now, it is always a good option to prevent future health problems.

Where To Go

If you are looking to treat your dog to a new bed, the first thing to do is to check with your regular veterinarian for his or her recommendation. Your personal vet knows your dog better than anyone and will be able to make sure that you get the best possible product for your pet. Once you have obtained a recommendation, you have a couple of options. You can call or tour local pet stores in search of the bed that your vet prefers, or you can search online. Finding the bed at a local store ensures that you can get the bed sooner, but internet searches often yield better financial results. There are tons of web sites out there for pet lovers that offer great marked-down prices with reasonable shipping. Really, it's just a matter of personal preference. Whichever way you decide to go, just make sure you get the best model of bed for your dog. After all, his sweet dreams depend on it!
Posted by Johnny at 5:19 PM

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