Calming Pets Who Have Anxiety During Thunderstorms

April showers bring May flowers, but unfortunately anxiety can take root in our four-legged friends when lighting and thunder roll in. Thunderstorms can be hair raising experiences for our pets. Loud booms of thunder and cracks of lightning may leave your beloved cowering in a corner or shaking. These reactions can leave us pet owners with a feeling of helplessness and despair. Seeing our dog or cat with fluffed up tails, tense body language, and sometimes, engaged in bad behavior, can be overwhelming. Cats and dogs may rip at the carpet or furniture, go to the bathroom on the floor, or meow, hiss, and bark more than usual when experiencing anxiety. But what can we as pet owners do to help our pets feel better when the weatherperson calls for thunderstorms?

Here are some tips and tricks to help your pet calm down when its raining cats and dogs.

1. Talk to your vet.
If you are concerned about the level of anxiety that your pet is experiencing tell your veterinarian. It is always a good idea to inform your vet about new developments in your pets mental and physical health.

2. Have a safe room for your pet to go when it gets too loud.
Your pet may be naturally inclined to seek out a safe place to hide. This may be problematic, but it also maybe an easy fix. Having a room that has a bed, toys, and other belongings that make your pet more comfortable may be a great start to helping treat their anxiety. If your pet feels comfortable and calm before the storm hits it can be easier to calm them down during the storm.

3. Never trap or confine your pet during an episode.
Along with the idea of having a safe room or place for your pet to go when a storm hits also brings up the challenge of confinement. Never make your pet feel confined to the safe room. This can make the anxiety even worse. Keep the door to the pet carrier or room open.

4. Try a calming harness or snug fitting shirt to calm your pet.
A harness or a snug fitting shirt can help make your pet feel secure during a storm.

5. Distract with toys, treats, and play.
Distracting your pets from the storm that is raging outside may be an easy fix. This can be tricky. You do not want to reward your pet for their behavior, but what you are trying to do is comfort them. A game of tug-o-war or batting around a toy mouse may help keep your pets mind off the storm.

6. Don’t yell at your pet if they display bad behavior.
Yelling only makes things worse. If your pet is ripping at the carpet or had an accident, yelling at them will only heighten their anxiety. Instead try to stop the behavior or clean up the mess calmly.

7. Calming pheromones for cats.
This is an interesting solution to clawing and spraying that is on the market today. Cat pheromones can help calm cats down and deter them from exhibiting bad behavior. These come in spray and wall plug in diffusers.

8. Medication may be necessary for severe cases of anxiety.
Talking to your vet about medication-based options may be necessary. If it seems like all of the methods for calming your pet down during a storm does not work, medication may be an option. Medication can be an everyday regiment or used only when needed depending on severity.

9. Keep calm and carry on.
Pet parents, the best thing that we can do is keep calm for our pets. As soon as we start panicking or being angry our pets will notice.