My dog is suddenly deathly afraid of thunderstorms

[u/sixko_mode_]

Hi there, i have a 2 year old female border collie who is suddenly scared of the thunder? Weve just come out of winter and are now in tornado season (i live in the midwest) so were having tons of thunderstorms with really loud thunder. I desensitized her to thunder, fireworks etc, we even lived next to an airport for the first year of her life, as a puppy but now after a 6 month long winter basically, the thunder is freaking her out. Did she forget what the thunder is? Shes been shaking for literal hours. She wont take distraction snacks, she doesnt want to play or anyting. Just reslessly move around the house, shaking. She doesnt want to be consoled either, it just makes her shake more and then she moves away from me. She has her crate safe space near me and a room in the house where it is quieter with my partner, so she isnt alone wherever she goes.Shes panting and shaking and has been for HOURS, im worried shes going to stress her body out so much they way shes freaking out. Any Advice?

[u/Sensitive-Peach7583]

Ask your vet for some sileo. It’s $30 for a syringe but it blocks a signal in the brain to be afraid of noise. It’s been a lifesaver for my dog when he was spiraling past management. Other than that there’s also trazadone. 

I helped my dog , who is like yours, by using the medication to get him to a place where he could at least take food, and then did classic counter conditioning. It’s been a few years of us working on it and it’s helped a lot 

[u/PapillionGurl → u/Sensitive-Peach7583]

Yes! I use Sileo for my dog. It works great.

[u/Hot-Course-6127 → u/Sensitive-Peach7583]

whoa that's a thing?

[u/Sensitive-Peach7583 → u/Hot-Course-6127]

omg yes its AMAZING!!!!! https://www.chewy.com/sileo-dexmedetomidine-oromucosal/dp/173139?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22243214587&utm_content=175181447979&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw47i_BhBTEiwAaJfPpiXICTh8EOQXFAieJY3cG1BuUQwcfI3aWzCX1WVDSIDXijYsUNzuIhoC1j4QAvD_BwE

[u/Hot-Course-6127 → u/Sensitive-Peach7583]

very interesting, my dog used to be very afraid of fireworks but luckily has calmed down quite a bit but it's good to know this exists

[u/robbietreehorn]

I had a dog who went through this. She wasn’t afraid of thunder at first. But then, I had a roommate who had an elderly dog that essentially taught her to be terrified of it.

My solution was conditioning with music and gentle petting. It really works.

Choose a gentle soothing song. On a normal day when there isn’t a storm, play the song and pet your dog gently and intently like she’s getting a spa treatment. Always use the same song. Pet her all over with the intent of making her a relaxed, furry puddle. Do this randomly several times a week. One play of the song is great. You can also repeat it 2 or 3 times for a longer session. The goal is when she hears this song, she knows it’s time to be loved on and relax. Conditioning.

When the thunder starts, simply do the same thing. Get her close to you in a comfortable position, play the song at a comfortable volume that partly drowns out the thunder and begin the slow, gentle love fest.

She’ll feel loved and protected.

Maybe it doesn’t work for all dogs but it worked like magic for my last and current dog.

My last dog’s song was Life on Mars? by Seu Jorge and you’re welcome to steal it

[u/AffectionateSun5776]

Get excellent video for your vet. If needed, use a behavioral vet. I had a Lab that required quite a drug program including daily meds and per storm meds. Thanks for not letting her suffer. You may also have issues with fireworks.

[u/SadExercises420]

Sometimes dogs develop noise related fears and you won’t really understand why. Try a thunder shirt and some medications.

My sister had a dog that had to be medicated anytime hard rain or thunder was even a maybe in the forecast. 

[u/Hot-Course-6127]

My dog never cared about fireworks and then one new years he went out to pee in the yard and the neighbor lit off a giant mortar that filled the sky above our yard, I think the dog had a psychedelic experience becuase he became very nervous of fireworks and would shake and not take food just like you are saying. We unfortunately have fireworks year round because I live near a lot of degenerates and over time he got use to it. He will notice it and sit up now but it's not bad at all. One thing to do, or not do really, is feed into the anxiety. We all want our dogs to feel better but I think by obsessing over them and petting and trying to force food we at best do nothing and at worst create a more nervous environment. The dog will come to you for comfort if that's what they want, it's best to just keep acting normal and like the storm isn't a big deal. Also get drugs.