Natural Pet Health

As a pet owners, we come to expect mishaps now and then—a wetting accident after being left alone too long, changed behavior in a new environment, stomach upset after a new food—but sometimes, unavoidable and seemingly inexplicable triggers can send even the most composed animal into a frenzy.

For instance, many animals experience anxiety during thunderstorms and fireworks. Animals may cower, hide under the bed, tremble, or exhibit nervous behavior. However, sometimes the response can be disproportionate to the situation or result from an unlikely trigger such as beeping from an electronic device, a hair dryer, or a vacuum cleaner.

Veterinary behaviorists estimate that up to 20 percent of dog owners (and an imprecise but similar estimation for cats) seek professional help for their pet’s severe noise phobias. Extreme animal behaviors may include self-mutilation, indoor defecation, and/or damage to furniture or surroundings.

Regardless of what noise initiates the fear response, your behavior can greatly influence the reaction of your pet. Most owners either do one of two things: they either try and comfort the animal or scold it. Neither is effective and both can actually have detrimental effects. Overly consoling an animal actually reinforces the fear response, while punishment for nervous behavior has a similar effect, as the animal comes to believe that he does have a reason to fear the noises since he is reprimanded.

Instead, train your animal to retreat to a place he or she associates with safety and comfort (such as a bathroom, doggie bed, cat scratching post) during a storm or before you turn on a known trigger. At this point, reward calm behavior.

Other effective approaches are desensitization therapy or conditioning methods, where low levels of controlled exposure to the source of fear are introduced and gradually increased in intensity or other calming stimulus are introduced as the sound occurs. However, caution should be used with these behavioral modifying approaches, as poor implementation can actually increase the fear.

Like other health issues, the best way to manage nervous system health is holistically. This means a healthy diet, regular exercise and a secure home environment – as well as extra support in times of stressful, foreseeable events.

Natural remedies can also help when behavioral modifications are not sufficient, or to boost the calming effects. Scutellaria laterifolia (Scullcap) is one of the best known herbs for soothing the nervous system and may be used regularly every day or occasionally when needed, providing tonic benefits for the entire nervous system.

Passiflora incarnata is a tropical herb which has been used since the 19th century to soothe the nerves. Modern research supports traditional usage and clinical trials have demonstrated the relaxing effects of Passiflora. Kalium phosphate (Kali. phos.) (6C) is a biochemic tissue salt with many therapeutic benefits and will help to maintain nervous system equilibrium and harmony. Argentum nitricum (Arg. nit.) (30C) is well known for soothing the nerves and providing support for the nervous system. It is also useful to promote digestive health.

The ideology “prevention is better than cure” is greatly applied to noise phobias as well, for owners in the position to instill proper behavioral responses at an early age. Exposure to loud or potentially startling sounds before 14 weeks can help eliminate fears to noises.

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