Storm phobia- surprise remedy - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Nikki+2 · 05-25-2009, 12:02 PM

Spike has terrible storm phobias. Before I even know rain is coming, he starts shaking violently and panting wildly. When he is like this he is so upset he isn't even tempted by chicken or other treats. To complicate matters, Spike's body handles sedatives as stimulants. I once tried Benadryl and it made him super hyper though no less afraid. The vet prescribed Valium and he went so crazy we had to lock him in his stroller to keep him from hurting himself. He was completely uncontrollable but had zero coordination. The closest thing we've come to finding something that helped is Rescue Remedy. It seemed to help a lot at first but ended up just slightly taking the edge off. It seems that for many dogs, the storm phobia comes from the static in the air before and during a storm. I've read that rubbing a dog down with a dryer sheet helps a lot but everything else I read about them is about how toxic they are so i haven't tried it.

We've been in a drought all winter but our daily storms have started. A few days ago I was researching 'storm coats' that seem to help a lot of dogs. I came across a tip that many dogs are helped just by wearing a tee shirt. We tried it and.... It works!!!!

We have had success with this 2 days in a row. When he starts shaking, we put a shirt on him and, poof! No more shaking, no panting- he can even be enticed to play. I can't believe such a simple thing could make such a difference. Just wanted to pass it along in case it might work for someone else.

jolissa · 05-25-2009, 12:07 PM

Thanks for the info. my yorkies are not afraid, but I know a lot of people who's dogs do have this problem. I'll pass it along.

JPop & Taz 2 · 05-25-2009, 01:51 PM

Wow! Thanks for that little tid-bit. My Taz is so afraid of weather. He shakes and just wants to hide. I'll definitely try the t-shirt next time there's a storm.

bcrass2 · 05-25-2009, 01:55 PM

My yorkies are not afraid of the storms, but my female scottish terrier is. I am definitely going to try this! Thank you so much for sharing!

mypreciouspups · 05-25-2009, 01:58 PM

We have had huge thunder storms with lightening and mega rain now for 14 days here in Zephyrhills... gracie is so scared... the other day I closed the blinds.. shut off the tv and puter and we all went to the bedroom.. the only way I could settle her down.. never thought of trying a tshirt on.. so will as I am sure we will have our second storm of the day yet... thanks.. anne

Judy in Waco · 05-25-2009, 02:07 PM

Thank you for this tip!

It takes a bad storm to upset either of mine, but when they do get upset, I'll try this. I wonder if this would help with fireworks?

Nikki+2 · 05-25-2009, 03:38 PM

I hope it works for y'all. He did finally start shaking a bit and panting today (right after I posted, naturally

) but was still is a huge difference. Usually he is a mess before I even know a storm is coming and for a little bit after it passes. Today he was fine until it started really thundering but was fine right after. He was upset for about 15 minutes where usually it would have been around 3 hours. He literally stops shaking as soon as the shirt is put on him.

I still might order this cape- Reduce dog anxiety! Wrap our cape around your dog. We have so many storms in the summer and it's so hard on the poor little guy. I'm going to give it a few more days to decide though because the tee shirt on it's own makes such a huge difference.

This site has pretty good information about storm phobia- Thunderstorm-phobia

Nikki+2 · 05-25-2009, 05:09 PM

*Update*

It's raining again and... No shakes! No panting! This is a miracle! I have tried so many natural remedies I can't even count. I can't believe the answer was so easy. He looks a little uneasy but the difference is amazing.

I think I'm going to try spraying his tee with hairspray next time and see if that helps even more. I know hairspray is so good at fighting static on hair and clothes so it seems like it might help.

Yay!!!

3CrazyYorkies · 05-25-2009, 05:18 PM

You can also try wiping him or the t-shirt down with a bounce dryer sheet -- it helps my sons bulldog with her storm phobia.

cobird2 · 05-25-2009, 05:23 PM

Thanks, I'm passing this along to my sister whose lab is horrified of storms.
It's "funny" to see her check the air whenever she goes outside. She sticks her nose in the air and sniffs. Then she's either happy or starts shaking.

mypreciouspups · 05-25-2009, 05:27 PM

Although we have no rain or thunder.. gracie has to be on my knee so I just put her gofetch nightie on to see if this helps her calm down.. we have had such storms for 14 days now..I guess it will take some to calm her down.. anne

oopsmyhalofello · 05-25-2009, 05:38 PM

One of my labs has an awful time with storms, and we do have them quite often in the spring/summer. I'm going the tee shirt a try, i'll just use one of my kids shirts LOL

Now that someone mentioned hairspray, I wonder if it would be helpful to use a hair spray on the dog where the shirt doesn't lay. hmmmmm

I'll be sure to report my results when we have our next storm

megansmomma · 05-25-2009, 08:41 PM

I am going to try this with our next storm. Poor Bogey is so afraid of storms. He is my little rescue that was dumped on a country road during a huge storm last September. I'm sure that is why he is so afraid and nothing will calm him down during a storm. I hope this works for us as well. Thanks Nikki!

alaskayorkie · 05-25-2009, 08:52 PM

Are you kidding me??? Wow, I will be forever indebted to you if this works. We're expecting lightning and thunder TOMORROW, and I was already in full panic mode. Your post came in the, excuse the pun, Nikki of time!

Thanks. If this works, I nominate you for YTer of the year!

AddieLove · 05-25-2009, 08:52 PM

Oh my! That's so amazing! I'm glad he's doing better! While my pup doesn't have storm phobia, I'll be sure to pass it along to anyone I know who has a pup with that fear. Thank you so much for sharing the information!

05-25-2009, 12:02 PM	#1
Nikki+2 I heart Sugar Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 7,373	Storm phobia- surprise remedy Spike has terrible storm phobias. Before I even know rain is coming, he starts shaking violently and panting wildly. When he is like this he is so upset he isn't even tempted by chicken or other treats. To complicate matters, Spike's body handles sedatives as stimulants. I once tried Benadryl and it made him super hyper though no less afraid. The vet prescribed Valium and he went so crazy we had to lock him in his stroller to keep him from hurting himself. He was completely uncontrollable but had zero coordination. The closest thing we've come to finding something that helped is Rescue Remedy. It seemed to help a lot at first but ended up just slightly taking the edge off. It seems that for many dogs, the storm phobia comes from the static in the air before and during a storm. I've read that rubbing a dog down with a dryer sheet helps a lot but everything else I read about them is about how toxic they are so i haven't tried it. We've been in a drought all winter but our daily storms have started. A few days ago I was researching 'storm coats' that seem to help a lot of dogs. I came across a tip that many dogs are helped just by wearing a tee shirt. We tried it and.... It works!!!! We have had success with this 2 days in a row. When he starts shaking, we put a shirt on him and, poof! No more shaking, no panting- he can even be enticed to play. I can't believe such a simple thing could make such a difference. Just wanted to pass it along in case it might work for someone else. __________________ "If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." — St. Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226 Last edited by Nikki+2; 05-25-2009 at 12:04 PM.

05-25-2009, 01:51 PM	#3
JPop & Taz 2 Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: LA Posts: 989	Wow! Thanks for that little tid-bit. My Taz is so afraid of weather. He shakes and just wants to hide. I'll definitely try the t-shirt next time there's a storm. __________________ Linda, owned by JPop, Taz, TJ, Halo, my "Lil Deuce Coupe", and my angel Tia

05-25-2009, 01:55 PM	#4
bcrass2 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Snowflake, AZ, USA Posts: 672	My yorkies are not afraid of the storms, but my female scottish terrier is. I am definitely going to try this! Thank you so much for sharing! __________________ Chloe and Little Man's Mommy We Miss you Milo!

05-25-2009, 02:07 PM	#6
Judy in Waco Gizzy & Kandi spoil me Donating Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Waco, Texas Posts: 8,477	Thank you for this tip! It takes a bad storm to upset either of mine, but when they do get upset, I'll try this. I wonder if this would help with fireworks? __________________ The fullness of our heart is expressed in our eyes, in our touch, in what we write, in what we say, in the way we walk, the way we receive, the way we need. -Mother Teresa ( RIP Gizmo 3/9/07-8/18/12)

05-25-2009, 03:38 PM	#7
Nikki+2 I heart Sugar Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 7,373	I hope it works for y'all. He did finally start shaking a bit and panting today (right after I posted, naturally) but was still is a huge difference. Usually he is a mess before I even know a storm is coming and for a little bit after it passes. Today he was fine until it started really thundering but was fine right after. He was upset for about 15 minutes where usually it would have been around 3 hours. He literally stops shaking as soon as the shirt is put on him. I still might order this cape- Reduce dog anxiety! Wrap our cape around your dog. We have so many storms in the summer and it's so hard on the poor little guy. I'm going to give it a few more days to decide though because the tee shirt on it's own makes such a huge difference. This site has pretty good information about storm phobia- Thunderstorm-phobia __________________ "If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." — St. Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226

05-25-2009, 12:07 PM	#2
jolissa Donating Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Farmingville , New York Posts: 266	Thanks for the info. my yorkies are not afraid, but I know a lot of people who's dogs do have this problem. I'll pass it along.

05-25-2009, 01:58 PM	#5
mypreciouspups Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida/Canada Posts: 5,514	We have had huge thunder storms with lightening and mega rain now for 14 days here in Zephyrhills... gracie is so scared... the other day I closed the blinds.. shut off the tv and puter and we all went to the bedroom.. the only way I could settle her down.. never thought of trying a tshirt on.. so will as I am sure we will have our second storm of the day yet... thanks.. anne

05-25-2009, 05:09 PM	#8
Nikki+2 I heart Sugar Donating Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 7,373	Update It's raining again and... No shakes! No panting! This is a miracle! I have tried so many natural remedies I can't even count. I can't believe the answer was so easy. He looks a little uneasy but the difference is amazing. I think I'm going to try spraying his tee with hairspray next time and see if that helps even more. I know hairspray is so good at fighting static on hair and clothes so it seems like it might help. Yay!!! __________________ "If you have men who will exclude any of God’s creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men." — St. Francis of Assisi, 1181-1226

05-25-2009, 05:18 PM	#9
3CrazyYorkies YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Alberta ... Canada Posts: 583	You can also try wiping him or the t-shirt down with a bounce dryer sheet -- it helps my sons bulldog with her storm phobia.

05-25-2009, 05:23 PM	#10
cobird2 YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New York Posts: 837	Thanks, I'm passing this along to my sister whose lab is horrified of storms. It's "funny" to see her check the air whenever she goes outside. She sticks her nose in the air and sniffs. Then she's either happy or starts shaking. __________________ Johnny, Our Big, Little Dog

05-25-2009, 05:27 PM	#11
mypreciouspups Donating YT 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Florida/Canada Posts: 5,514	Although we have no rain or thunder.. gracie has to be on my knee so I just put her gofetch nightie on to see if this helps her calm down.. we have had such storms for 14 days now..I guess it will take some to calm her down.. anne

05-25-2009, 05:38 PM	#12
oopsmyhalofello Just Pawz Donating Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Liverpool, NY Posts: 1,827	One of my labs has an awful time with storms, and we do have them quite often in the spring/summer. I'm going the tee shirt a try, i'll just use one of my kids shirts LOL Now that someone mentioned hairspray, I wonder if it would be helpful to use a hair spray on the dog where the shirt doesn't lay. hmmmmm I'll be sure to report my results when we have our next storm __________________

05-25-2009, 08:41 PM	#13
megansmomma Donating YT 10K Club Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: S. W. Suburbs of Chicago, IL Posts: 12,235	I am going to try this with our next storm. Poor Bogey is so afraid of storms. He is my little rescue that was dumped on a country road during a huge storm last September. I'm sure that is why he is so afraid and nothing will calm him down during a storm. I hope this works for us as well. Thanks Nikki! __________________ “Never argue with a fool, onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.” Mark Twain

05-25-2009, 08:52 PM	#14
alaskayorkie Banning Thread Dictator Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Anchorage Posts: 30,843 Blog Entries: 57	Are you kidding me??? Wow, I will be forever indebted to you if this works. We're expecting lightning and thunder TOMORROW, and I was already in full panic mode. Your post came in the, excuse the pun, Nikki of time! Thanks. If this works, I nominate you for YTer of the year! __________________ Mike ~ Doting Dad to Jillie, Harper, Molly, Cooper, Eddie (RIP), Lucy (RIP), Rusty (RIP) and Jack (RIP). Check us out on YouTube

05-25-2009, 08:52 PM	#15
AddieLove Loving Addie Since 2008 Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX, USA Posts: 783	Oh my! That's so amazing! I'm glad he's doing better! While my pup doesn't have storm phobia, I'll be sure to pass it along to anyone I know who has a pup with that fear. Thank you so much for sharing the information!