Posted on 05/30/2015 4:27:41 PM PDT by ken5050
I'm curious if any Freepers have any thoughts on so called dog "calming coats"/anxiety jackets/"Thundercoats" or whatever they're called. I'd never even heard of the things until a few weeks ago, when I mentioned to a friend that my 18 month old chorkie that I rescued (I named her "Reagan") is absolutely petrified of thunder and lightning. She suggested I try one. Reagan's trembling is such that if I could harness the energy, it would likely power my apartment.
I gather it's supposed to act in the same way a baby responds to being swaddled, but a lot of what I've read says it's hogwash...it doesn't work.
I've picked her up and wrapped her in a thick towel, held her, but she's still scared, so I'm less than sanguine about having any success. Slightly off topic, but I read that they also made them for cats, which to me sounds preposterous. But I'm curious...anyone ever try one of those?
I’ve given my border collie Valerian root - it helps her really well. I roll it in a piece of cheese.
My kitty is afraid of thunder. I just grab her up, pet her, cuddle her, and brush her. The brushing seems to have the most calmative effect.
Tried one on an ex-girlfriend. The results weren’t pretty.
It takes the edge off our dog. Not a cure, but it helps.
No I do not But I have tried Adaptil for dogs and they have dog collars. The product is wonderful! Google it!
We have an anxiety ottoman with a skirt that touches the floor. Dog goes under. Comes back out when it deems its safe. Like when Mr. GG2 puts the bath towel away or the foot ointment. :-)
Some people get good results with melatonin.
tried thunder shirts, rescue remedy, vaarium, nothing worked.
we got a prescription anti anxiety med from the vet that helps a lot
A dark enclosed place keeps mine calm. I have a blanket draped over my chair and he spends a lot of time there anyway.
Ya know, Mao has become less sensitive to thunder, because she knows she’s gonna get brushed, which is her favorite thing in life!
They don't get flying lessons with thunderstorms. They might with me.
/johnny
On you or the cat?
I use a Thunder Shirt for one of my rescue dogs that is terrified of thunder. Without the shirt, he shakes uncontrollably. Put the shirt on him and he rests peacefully, but pants. This works really well, but YMMV.
Fox2 News - The Thundershirt Works for Dog Thunderstorm Anxiety
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bVRA44ggj8
The best way to calm dogs down is with a recording of dog laughs.
No kiddin.
Im series!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcoMzyPVT9M
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nIj4WAP6BaI
Vetvet, are you a veterinarian?
I was very interested in the Thundershirt, because it seemed to bear out some of Temple Grandin’s ideas - her ‘squeeze machine’.
I mentioned it to a veterinarian friend, and while he admitted that he had no experience with it, he didn’t seem to think much of it.
I don’t have a dog; and only one of my many cats over the years has ever been afraid of thunderstorms. But I am interested because I have friends whose black lab once threw himself through a plate glass picture window because July 4 frightened him so much. (Dog was ok, physically.)
-JT
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