Dogs that have noise phobias

When you dog runs for cover at the sound of fireworks or a thunderstorm then you can be sure that your dog is suffering from a noise phobia. As terrible as it may sound there are natural remedies that can lessen the stress associated with the noise.

Anti-anxiety drugs such as Prozac and Buspar can work but take 3-4 weeks to take effect and also can have side effects. Looking at natural alternatives seems a better option. Tryptophan is found in complex Carbohydrates so by feeding your dog this kind of diet you will give him a natural boost. Tryptophan is in fact a precursor for Serotonin and Serotonin effects mood. When the dog eats carbohydrates this stimulates the production of insulin which in turn increases the uptake of Tryptophan and so increases the level of Serotonin. Although this method works in theory there is no hard evidence or statistics to back it up. One natural Remedy called flower essences such as Rescue Remedy was developed by an English medical Doctor Edward Bach. Each liquid is an extract of flowers which effect different aspects of emotional well-being in humans and animals. Of these Flower remedies Rescue Remedy is the best known and has a calming effect. The conclusion on how effective these remedies are varies. Some say it works immediately and others maintain that it takes four to eight weeks to have an effect on dog's emotions. At the end of the day it will not do any harm to try it.

Another suggestion is the use of Melatonin. This is a natural hormone that regulates our sleep and wake pattern, called circadian rhythms. Various studies have shown Melatonin to be 80% successful with an indication that the Melatonin must be given before the fear-inducing noise occurs. Another use for Melatonin has been with search and rescue dogs that have to travel on helicopters or planes to different areas .The Melatonin lets them relax throughout the flight and also the dogs are still be able to perform their search duties when they arrive. This was something that was affected when pharmaceutical drugs were used; the dogs were drowsy and unable to do their jobs properly. Melatonin used to be derived from the pineal gland of bovines but is now manufactured as a synthetically produced pharmaceutical. Make sure if you decide to try this method that it is pure melatonin and not mixed with any other herbs.

Finally...if music is your thing then studies have also found that simple classical music performed on the piano produced a calming effect on 70 percent of dogs in shelters and 85 percent of dogs in homes. Before going down the route of the natural remedies trying a classical CD is worth a shot and may even save you the bother of trying anything esle.

Article Source: http://www.rightbiz.com

Kathy teaches Animal Health and Behavior in a college in the UK. As well as teaching she has an online business on cats and dogs. www.yourcatmydog.com

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