It can be difficult to watch your pets suffer with anxiety during thunderstorms, but experts say there are things you can do to help calm them during bad weather.
Dogs share many of the same emotions as people, including feeling anxious, the American Kennel Club says.
“If you’ve ever had a case of nerves, you’ll understand that dog anxiety is extremely difficult for your pet,” the AKC says. “It can overwhelm them, shut them down, and make it impossible for them to learn or respond to cues.”
The AKC notes that pet anxiety is to blame for many bad behaviors, such as destroying furniture or other items.
Luckily for animal owners, the same approaches that work on such holidays at the Fourth of July can work during storms.
Here’s a plan to help your animals stay safe and anxiety-free during the next set of storms.
Recognize when your pet is anxious
Although it’s never too late to help your dog, the longer they have experienced anxiety, the more challenging it can be to treat, the AKC said.
“You want to step in as soon as you can rather than letting your dog suffer. It’s also important to intervene quickly in the moment. Don’t let your dog’s emotions ramp up past the point of no return.
“Learn to read dog body language so you can spot the first signs of stress, such as lip licking or pulled back ears. Then, whether it’s walking in another direction or distracting your dog, you can act quickly to change the situation and relieve your dog’s discomfort,” the AKC noted.
Tips for calming, soothing anxious pets
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Pets anxious during thunderstorms? Tips to help them remain calm during storms
Reporting by Jalen Williams, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
