Benadryl or other OTC meds for dog anxiety?

[Deleted]

My dog has storm anxiety. We've tried a handful of medications from the vet in the past, rescue remedy, and the thunder shirt. Nothing helps, at all. The medications have made him a little off balance, but never stopped the barking and pacing and panting. The last couple of years seem to have been lighter storm years, so we've just dealt with it with cuddles and pets and waiting it out.

We've had storms pretty much solid since 4am last night - lots of thunder and it is supposed to last through the night tonight. I can't remember the last time it thundered this consistently for this long. Usually it's a couple of hours and then we move on. 

I would like to sleep tonight, and I feel bad for my dog. Is there anything I can do right now for him? The vet is obviously closed though I plan to follow up again and see if there is anything else that can be done for him. He seems ok, just barking a TON and he's not really a big barker and I feel bad for him, for my other dog who has been listening to him for the last 14 hours, and of course the humans in the house.

[womet]

Yup, we give M 1mg per lb. So since he's 75lbs, he gets 3 of the 25mg tablets in a pill pocket. Works like a charm.

[Deleted]

Apr 17, 2013 18:50:25 GMT -5 womet said:

Yup, we give M 1mg per lb. So since he's 75lbs, he gets 3 of the 25mg tablets in a pill pocket. Works like a charm.

And this makes him sleepy/calmer? I might have to try it. Though now I'm nervous about different kinds of benadryl... 

[Deleted]

Our vet told us just to get plain old benadryl. My dog has taken it once and it definitely knocked her out.

[Saudade]

We've also tried everything for our dog that gets storm anxiety. She has busted out of 3 metal crates, destroyed the trim on the room she's in, destroyed a baby gate, and almost broke a window.

We've tried a lot of medicine from the vet, thundershirt, and rescue remedy but I think the only thing that will work will be to completely knock her out...which I obviously can't do.

I'll have to try benedryl the next time we have a storm.

[LoveTrains]

My vet told me to give my dog benadryl for his allergies. He gets the generic CVS benadryl - the pink pills. He gets 1 pill at breakfast and one at dinner.

It no longer makes him sleepy, but that is because he gets it every day. It does help with his allergies, though.

[womet]

Apr 17, 2013 18:53:44 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

Apr 17, 2013 18:50:25 GMT -5 womet said:

Yup, we give M 1mg per lb. So since he's 75lbs, he gets 3 of the 25mg tablets in a pill pocket. Works like a charm.

And this makes him sleepy/calmer? I might have to try it. Though now I'm nervous about different kinds of benadryl... 

We get the generic benadryl. And it makes him sack out on his chair. And he's definitely more relaxed when he is awake.

[jerseyjaybird]

Ditto PP's---regular Benadryl, 1 mg per pound, should make him sleepy.

One of my dogs has storm anxiety like I've never seen (one night last summer I woke up because he, sleeping at the foot of my bed, was shaking so hard the whole bed was shaking), and my vet also prescribed Xanax for him.

[rosiedozie]

What meds have you used from the vet? If it's been things like Xanax or other sedatives I'm not sure that benadryl would give you any different results.

[krisandgrace]

Out vet gave us acepromazine ( am probably spelling it wrong) It is a mild seditive. If I knew the weather was going to get bad I would give it to her. She would be a little out of it the next day but it was worth it.

[Saudade]

Apr 17, 2013 19:39:47 GMT -5 krisandgrace said:

Out vet gave us acepromazine ( am probably spelling it wrong) It is a mild seditive. If I knew the weather was going to get bad I would give it to her. She would be a little out of it the next day but it was worth it.

Ace tabs were one that our vet tried as well. It did nothing. At all. Totally disappointing. 

[falada45]

We have a terrier that has severe storm anxiety. We've also tried many remedies including the Thundershirt and medications from our vet. One vet gave us Ace to try, but it's just a sedative so while the dog can't physically react to the storms they can still be freaking out mentally which is kind of worrisome. Although at least it limits physical damage but it can make the anxiety worse in the long run.

We tried a combination of Xanax and Clomicalm antianxiety drugs with our terrier, but the effects were not noticeable. It seems like everything we try with her works once, and then the improvement wears off. Terrier have pretty high metabolism so they can be tough to medicate.

One trick that we've used on multiple occasions is putting a really loud war movie with lots of bombings or explosions (We Were Soldiers, etc.) on our surround-sound and hiking up the volume. It tends to help down out the storm sounds and calms down our dog. This also works well for July 4th when there are lots of fireworks going off.

Loud classical music seems to help her too.

I've also been trying to play the relaxing T-storm recordings on Youtube for her when we go to sleep. I've heard that if you play them regularly some dogs eventually become accustomed to the thunder noises.

Some people also try to acclimate the dog to the thunder by treating everytime it thunders. EVENTUALLY some dogs start associating the thunder with treats and their anxiety goes down. You'd just really need to be consistent with that method.

I hope you find something that helps! I know how stressful it can be!

[Saudade]

Apr 17, 2013 20:47:09 GMT -5 falada45 said:

We have a terrier that has severe storm anxiety. We've also tried many remedies including the Thundershirt and medications from our vet. One vet gave us Ace to try, but it's just a sedative so while the dog can't physically react to the storms they can still be freaking out mentally which is kind of worrisome. Although at least it limits physical damage but it can make the anxiety worse in the long run.

We tried a combination of Xanax and Clomicalm antianxiety drugs with our terrier, but the effects were not noticeable. It seems like everything we try with her works once, and then the improvement wears off. Terrier have pretty high metabolism so they can be tough to medicate.

One trick that we've used on multiple occasions is putting a really loud war movie with lots of bombings or explosions (We Were Soldiers, etc.) on our surround-sound and hiking up the volume. It tends to help down out the storm sounds and calms down our dog. This also works well for July 4th when there are lots of fireworks going off.

Loud classical music seems to help her too.

I've also been trying to play the relaxing T-storm recordings on Youtube for her when we go to sleep. I've heard that if you play them regularly some dogs eventually become accustomed to the thunder noises.

Some people also try to acclimate the dog to the thunder by treating everytime it thunders. EVENTUALLY some dogs start associating the thunder with treats and their anxiety goes down. You'd just really need to be consistent with that method.

I hope you find something that helps! I know how stressful it can be!

The behavior modifications tips are a good idea. We noticed a progression in our dog when it went from just thunder, to thunder and lightening, to thunder, lightening, and rain, then wind. Now it seems as if she can tell the change in barometric pressure. However, it isn't just storms. It's fireworks and hunting season too. And of course, we can't plan for the storms. 

Every year we try more meds and nothing works. I am dreading the arrival of storm season because we're not sure what to do at this point. 

[Deleted]

Apr 17, 2013 20:58:55 GMT -5 Saudade said:

Apr 17, 2013 20:47:09 GMT -5 falada45 said:

We have a terrier that has severe storm anxiety. We've also tried many remedies including the Thundershirt and medications from our vet. One vet gave us Ace to try, but it's just a sedative so while the dog can't physically react to the storms they can still be freaking out mentally which is kind of worrisome. Although at least it limits physical damage but it can make the anxiety worse in the long run.

We tried a combination of Xanax and Clomicalm antianxiety drugs with our terrier, but the effects were not noticeable. It seems like everything we try with her works once, and then the improvement wears off. Terrier have pretty high metabolism so they can be tough to medicate.

One trick that we've used on multiple occasions is putting a really loud war movie with lots of bombings or explosions (We Were Soldiers, etc.) on our surround-sound and hiking up the volume. It tends to help down out the storm sounds and calms down our dog. This also works well for July 4th when there are lots of fireworks going off.

Loud classical music seems to help her too.

I've also been trying to play the relaxing T-storm recordings on Youtube for her when we go to sleep. I've heard that if you play them regularly some dogs eventually become accustomed to the thunder noises.

Some people also try to acclimate the dog to the thunder by treating everytime it thunders. EVENTUALLY some dogs start associating the thunder with treats and their anxiety goes down. You'd just really need to be consistent with that method.

I hope you find something that helps! I know how stressful it can be!

The behavior modifications tips are a good idea. We noticed a progression in our dog when it went from just thunder, to thunder and lightening, to thunder, lightening, and rain, then wind. Now it seems as if she can tell the change in barometric pressure. However, it isn't just storms. It's fireworks and hunting season too. And of course, we can't plan for the storms. 

Every year we try more meds and nothing works. I am dreading the arrival of storm season because we're not sure what to do at this point. 

This is really where I'm at too. I would like to try the behavior modification method, but realistically we are not always home during storms and they are most often overnight. I guess I am not sleeping anyway if he's barking, but I'm not sure if I can actually be consistent enough with that method to make a difference.

He hates fireworks too. Thankfully he'll probably be ok this year, but the last couple of years FIL lit off a ton of fireworks at the party we go to and my poor dog has been miserable. He even gets freaked out by the McDonalds commercial currently running that has firework noises!

I don't know what medications he's had before - I am pretty sure they were not Xanax or Prozac because I'm familiar with those names and I don't remember them being it. It's been a few years since we tried, since they did nothing and I didn't want to drug him for no reason. I may talk to them again about another medication though - it can't be good for him to be this worked up for this long, and frankly I'm exhausted and I know I'm not going to get any good sleep tonight. Looks like thunderstorms at least through 2am. That sucks. 

[Saudade]

Apr 17, 2013 21:20:37 GMT -5 @buckybells said:

Apr 17, 2013 20:58:55 GMT -5 Saudade said:

The behavior modifications tips are a good idea. We noticed a progression in our dog when it went from just thunder, to thunder and lightening, to thunder, lightening, and rain, then wind. Now it seems as if she can tell the change in barometric pressure. However, it isn't just storms. It's fireworks and hunting season too. And of course, we can't plan for the storms. 

Every year we try more meds and nothing works. I am dreading the arrival of storm season because we're not sure what to do at this point. 

This is really where I'm at too. I would like to try the behavior modification method, but realistically we are not always home during storms and they are most often overnight. I guess I am not sleeping anyway if he's barking, but I'm not sure if I can actually be consistent enough with that method to make a difference.

He hates fireworks too. Thankfully he'll probably be ok this year, but the last couple of years FIL lit off a ton of fireworks at the party we go to and my poor dog has been miserable. He even gets freaked out by the McDonalds commercial currently running that has firework noises!

I don't know what medications he's had before - I am pretty sure they were not Xanax or Prozac because I'm familiar with those names and I don't remember them being it. It's been a few years since we tried, since they did nothing and I didn't want to drug him for no reason. I may talk to them again about another medication though - it can't be good for him to be this worked up for this long, and frankly I'm exhausted and I know I'm not going to get any good sleep tonight. Looks like thunderstorms at least through 2am. That sucks. 

The only thing different here is that our dog doesn't bark. But she has to sit on me, on the bed, while panting/shaking, until an hour after the storm. I don't get any sleep. But the alternative is to have her destroy the house and hurt herself. She has broken a couple nails and two teeth. 

Last year we tried clomipramine. Did nothing. They increased the dose. It did nothing. I was at my wits end with a newborn and this psycho dog. We stopped the meds, because it didn't do anything, and I didn't want to drug her with no success. 

Tried the thundershirt. She just rubbed the walls trying to get it off. 

Thankfully I don't work so I can be home during the day when it happens, but it also means I don't get sleep at night when it does. 

Our vet is 30 miles away. I hate to keep going back and forth for no reason. Nothing is working. I start to feel like I need to put her under anesthesia just to deal with it. I feel so bad for her because I can't imagine what it must be like to be so traumatized. 

ETA: I'm so sorry you're having storms tonight (we're having snow. yay?). I always am glad when it happens during the day or when my husband is at home (he works nights). I keep trying to figure ways of keeping her out of the bedroom. Thankfully she doesn't bark but she does scratch/bite the door.

[minniebee]

My parents have a dog who freaks out during storms. The thunder shirt did nothing for him either. Under their vet's advice, they started giving him 2 pills of 25mg Benadryl and it helps a lot more than anything else they have tried. It helps more if they can give him the pills before the storm gets bad, once he hears thunder or sees lightening he really freaks out. He's a 55-lb coonhound, so it seems that the 1mg per lb is pretty accurate for the dose.

[redheadk]

We have a dog who flips her shit at thunder and fireworks. We tried the thundershirt, rescue remedy, etc. We found distraction to really work the best for her. She adores tv and is obsessed with watching animals on television. Dogs on tv are her catnip. We always keep a couple episodes of Dogs 101 on the dvr and put those on when it storms. She is so busy running around squeaking her toy at the tv that she fails to notice the thunder. Over time, her reactions to the thunder have become less severe.

Oddly enough, she always stays much calmer in the garage when there are fireworks so rather than staying in the house, DH has to go hang out with her in the garage.

She's strange.

[awick14]

DH and I recently bought these pills for our dog. Not for storms but because he can not be calm down if anything is happening at all. He has spent 10-12 hrs at a doggie daycare before and he will not relax there at all. (He can not miss a thing!) even after a long day there he comes home to us and he is so full of energy that the vet says he is putting too much stress on his heart/lungs.

We have tried the pills in the picture. We started off with half of one "treat" and found that it helped keep him calmer. We got the pills from a pet store, although they were recommended by the vet.

I'm not sure if they will work in your situation but they might be worth a try. (At the store here they come in 3 different size bags, as well as 2 different size treats.)

The dosage is on the back of the bag, it does say to start with have a pill though and work your way up. Just to make sure your dog doesn't have a bad reaction to it.

[Lucille Bluth]

Our dog also has massive anxiety during storms. He will even go up and nudge his thunder vest when he needs it, but he still gets drugged with an anti-anxiety and benadryl. He likes to go into a bathroom with no windows and lay in the bath.

There's also the Storm Defender Cape (http://www.stormdefender.com/) which might help. I think it has aluminum in it so they're not getting as much electrostatic.

You could also desensitize him by playing a CD on low of a thunderstorm while doing something pleasurable, like playing or getting treats.