Posted by R on 7/11/2001, 10:05 pm DENVER, July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- If your pooch cowers and cries every time A fear of storms is one of the most common phobias in dogs. It can cause To investigate the cause of this phobia, Emily Cornwall McCobb, DVM, The JAAHA study also shows that rescued dogs -- dogs adopted from shelters or Veterinarians and animal behaviorists offer various treatments for
New Study Finds Thunderstorm Phobias May Be in Dogs' Genes
summer storms roll in, it may have as much to do with his genes as his
upbringing. A recent study published in the July/August 2001 issue of the
Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association shows that your dog's
breed and previous experiences may affect whether he's afraid of
thunderstorms.
them to tremble, whine, drool and retreat to a hiding place. Behaviorists
are not yet sure what part of the storm frightens dogs most, whether they're
reacting to lightning flashes, thunder, the sound of rain on the roof or even
a sudden drop in air pressure or the electrical charge of the air.
Elizabeth A. Brown, DVM, Karen Damiani, and Nicholas H. Dodman, BVMS,
surveyed the owners of 69 storm-phobic dogs over the Internet. They
discovered that some breeds may be predisposed to a fear of storms. Herding
dogs, such as collies and German shepherds, and hounds, such as beagles and
basset hounds, seem to be more likely to develop a storm phobia than other
dogs. The phobia is also common in sporting and working breeds. The study
suggests that this tendency may be explained in terms of the dogs' genetics.
For example, herding dogs have been bred to react quickly to stimuli, such as
a calf wandering away from the herd, but not to be aggressive. It could be
that herding dogs have a strong reaction to the startling noises and flashes
of a storm, but they repress any aggressive response to it, causing anxiety.
rescue organizations -- may also be more likely to develop storm phobias. The
article suggests that these dogs are more likely to have had traumatic
experiences prior to adoption. These kinds of early-life experiences can
make dogs more anxious and fearful of the unknown.
storm-phobic dogs. Therapies typically include the development of a
behavioral modification plan that focuses on relieving the anxiety associated
with the thunderstorm phobia. Veterinarians can also prescribe anti-anxiety
or antidepressant medications to help dogs remain calm during storms.
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