I am looking for a way to calm my 8 year old female Peke when a storm is approaching and during it. We have tried all the natural / herbal remedies and every form of sedative and tranq the vet has. I then went to a new vet for help. The new vet even gave me a prescription for diazepam (5 mg tablets) which have not helped in the least ( I have given her 2 of them up to 30 minutes before the storm is even close). I have tried leaving the central air system fan running, a television on, a radio on, etc. with no relief to her. It isn't the sounds of the storm (fireworks don't bother her at all) that bother her, since she starts acting up sometimes 30 minutes before the rain even hits. I am only able to guess it has to have something to do with the air pressure. She becomes so terrified that she paces, pees, and shakes uncontrollably down to her bones. I can't hold or comfort her as she won't let me. The only way I have been able to get any sleep some nights is to gate her into the kitchen with the tv running and the ceiling fan running. I am afraid I will go in and find she has had a heart attack some morning. The vet has said it has something to do with her naturally obsessive-compulsive personality, which I rarely see evidence of. She is normally a very independent, confident companion - with an almost cat-like independence. This problem began with her when she was around 3 years old. She picked up a tick on her underside during an evening walk, and we had a storm come through that night, so I can only guess that she associates the pain /discomfort from the tick with the storms, but it seems to be getting worse, she is more sensitive to it, every year. Can someone PLEASE HELP US? Cindy

Hi,
I don't get the impression that it's obsess/compul behaviour either. My immediate thought was air pressure too and also changes in atmospheric electricity. Animals are very sensitive to natural changes, storms, earthquakes etc and I agree the tick could have triggered off her fear.

I don't know what remedies you've tried but homeopathic Phosphorus 200c, one dose before the storm is the most prominent remedy.

Also a lot of people use DAP diffusers. I haven't used one so I don't know much about them but someone else may tell you.

Kath.

Thanks for your reply, Kath. I only recently saw the DAP diffusers offered in the pet catalog, and wondered about its effectiveness. I will have to get one and give it a try. I certainly hope it works!
I will look back and see which homeopathic products we have tried, as I don't remember the details of them all. 'Princess' and I both thank you for your help! Cindy

Hi Cindy,
Nice to see you've registered and "joined us" :)
If you do a search on here for DAP diffuser you'll get some more info too. Let us know how you get on.

Kath.xx

Hi Kath!
I appreciate your help and concern. It has just been so frustrating not be be able to give my little Princess any relief. I will let you know if the DAP diffuser helps us. You can see her picture site at www.webshots.com under #1 pekingese perfection
Cindy

Hi Cindy,
I tried to search for her photo but couldn't find it. Could you do a link to the actual photo page. I'd love to see her!

Kath.

Hi Kath:
This link should get you there. If it doesn't work, do a search for my user ID which is Cyn1956.

http://community.webshots.com/scripts/editPhotos.fcgi?action=viewall&albumID=852805

She is a sweetie. Hope you can get there!

Cindy

Hi Cindy,
Yes i had to search with your ID. She's really cute, isn't she. Very posh bed!!

Kath.

Hi Kath
Glad you were able to find her page. She certainly is spoiled, as you can probably tell. But that is what I got her for!

Do you have any "water features" in your home? Just wonder if keeping her next to a fountain or waterfall might help with the running water/ions etc maybe counteracting to some extent the air pressure. I used to lose many eggs in the incubator if a storm struck when they were about 3/4 way though incubation but then happened to put a water ornament that my husband gave me next to the incubator and I got better hatches. Could have been a coincidence but might be worth trying.

Christine

That's interesting Christine. I wonder if it would work with broodys. Ours sometimes have whole clutches where nothing happens. We have two cockerels so at least some should be fertile. I can't remember if it happens when there's a storm but I'll take notice now. If no water is available, I wonder if one of the electric ionisers would do instead.

Kath.

Hi Christine

Thanks for the response. We will give the running water trick a try next time and see what happens. Anything is worth a shot!

Cindy

Could be the static. Dogs are a lot more sensitive to it than us and can be receiving little electric shocks causing distress. Rubbing the coat all over with a conditioning sheet for a tumble dryer can reduce this.
Also some dogs are more comfortable and calm down if they are put in the bathroom for the same reason.
Lara x

Hi Lara

Actually, we have tried all the rooms in the house with no luck, and we have a house humidifier, so I don't think there is much static to attack her. BUT I will happily try rubbing her with a dryer sheet this next time and hope it helps. I just have to believe there is something that will help her out there if we can just find it. Thanks for your response.

Cindy