Expert: Jana Connell RVT, CVT - 4/28/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hello my dog's name is Doug. He is very afraid of thunderstorms and now he is having anxiety at night. He is pacing from room to room all night long and hiding under the bed when there are no storms. We also have to struggle to get him to go outside.He is a 4 year old black and tan coonhound 80 pounds. He has never been afraid of anything accept storms.Just before this started we went on vacation and our neighbor girl who he loves watched him and said he was fine just like all our other trips.

ANSWER: My dog is also afraid of thunderstorms. I don't know many dogs that are not. However, if there is an anxiety going on with no storms around then it is probably not anxiety at all but it could be some pain he is having.

Dog's exhibit pain in the same way that would equate to anxiety. There are many reasons he might be in pain, if he is, but all of them point to the fact that if this is a continuous thing then he needs to see your vet and have him do a work-up on him and give him a good hands on exam.

That is always the first order in a case like this. From there your vet will be able to tell you whether or not it is anxiety or he will find the pain.

If there isn't a cause for the pain and it is true anxiety, your vet will have information about some drugs and training methods that you can use to 'desensitize' Doug to what ever it is that is bothering him.

So your first step will be to get him in for a hands-on check up and then you go from there.

I hope it is simple and Doug is back to himself in no time.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I took Doug to the vet and had him checked out 4-23-11 and also paid for a juinor wellness check up. They said he was fine. I still have to return with a stool sample this week and then the vet said if that is ok we can put him on meds.I think its crazy how it came from no where.
Mike

Answer
The fact that it came from nowhere is why I suggested it might be pain and not actual anxiety. It's hard to say. Is he neutered? That could help if he isn't. I am not sure how a fecal exam will help with this but it is good that they are doing a full work-up.

It is crazy but these things are not uncommon Mike, so don't feel like your dog is really crazy. It can make you feel crazy with all the pacing around but you must have some patience with him.

The Uncle Matty website could help you too- he has great success with dogs like this.

http://www.unclematty.com/training/selftrain.htm

http://www.unclematty.com/training/index.htm

There are many sections on his site that might help.

Let me know how it goes at the vets and what he does for Doug.