It is unknown why some pets become afraid of noises; it is a common problem in dogs, but less so in cats. The fear can soon become a phobia, which is defined as a persistent, excessive, and irrational fear response. Anxiety states and fear behavior are very complex in both people and animals. Some amount of fear is natural and can help an animal survive, so it is a very difficult emotion to extinguish.Noise phobias can include fear of thunderstorms, firecrackers, gunshots, loud noises, and even the sound of birds.
Members of our staff have had success using desensitization techniques. These techniques use recordings of thunderstorms and/or fireworks played at progressively higher volumes over the course of weeks or months ultimately desensitizing the pet to the stimulus they are afraid of.
This works well if properly executed, but takes time and is not a 'quick fix'
F7 Sound and Vision has some great recordings and truly wants to help pets with noise anxiety. Their cd recordings are inexpensive and well produced. Feel free to ask about these techniques with our staff.
Treatment for noise anxiety begins before the 4th of July or any event your dog could possibly react to. We can offer some prescription help at the last minute, but preparing for this situation in advance will make for an overall better experience in the short term and most importantly, for the life of your pet. The best and most effective treatment for noise anxiety/phobias is a combination of behavior and environmental modification, training, body wraps, pheromone treatments, and sometimes medications. Feel free to ask for more information.
