Dogs have feelings too. | Diagnosing + Treating Noise Aversion in Dogs
Sponsored with love by Zoetis Petcare.
All opinions are my own.
The day we got home from our honeymoon we welcomed our first born baby home with us — Baxter. If you know our family, then you already know that Baxter isn’t a human baby, he’s a Boxer pup baby but regardless, he’s our baby.
Three years later we were waiting on the arrival of our first human baby, Ava Sue, and of course we had all of the anxieties that come along with having a baby... plus the anxieties that come along with having a dog AND a baby at the same time.
Will Baxter be gentle with our baby girl?
How long will it take him to adjust?
Will they love each other? Hate each other?
Will we be able to devote enough attention to Baxter still?
And what if our daughter develops a dog allergy? What then?
ALL of those mom anxieties were there (and I’m sure will continue to be there for the rest of our lives) but most of them were eased the minute Ava and Baxter met for the first time. Baxter was gentle and kind (as though Ava had some sort of bubble around her) and Ava loved him right back. And if you’ve followed our family for a while then you know that these two have grown to be the absolute best friends. Baxter lays in Ava’s room with her until she falls asleep and once she’s awake in the morning they snuggle on the couch together and watch their morning show. They hug and they play and they’re just besties for life.
So while those fears were eased for me, what about Baxter? Did Baxter have anxieties just like we do? Does he continue to have any anxieties as we continue to welcome more babies into our family?
Of course he does. Dogs have feelings too!
Baxter and Franky do not have the relationship that he and Ava have. Baxter is gentle and kind with Franky, as I expect him to be with Hayes, but the two of them just sort of live in harmony but don’t really interact much. They tolerate each other just fine but are far from having that bond. Maybe it’ll change as Franky grows and maybe it won’t but I’m just so thankful they all get along because so many families are not as fortunate as we have been with a pup so loving and accepting of human babies joining their family.
And some of that could be related to dog anxiety. So what kinds of anxieties do dogs have?
Well for one, let’s talk about NOISE.
I saw thread after thread about all of those 4th of July fireworks terrifying dogs in thousands and thousands of households so clearly, this is one of the most common anxieties. For Baxter? Fireworks have never fazed him but there is a type of noise anxiety he clearly experienced — common noises in our home.
Whether we’re having an argument and raise our voices (because that happens) or one of the kids is crying loudly, Baxter over-reacts to the loud noises. He’ll snuggle up beside one of us, clearly anxious about the situation that’s arising and for us, that breaks our heart seeing him like that. He feels anxious and fearful because of the noises he hears.
Zoetis Petcare has recently launched a canine noise aversion campaign, Noise Monsters, in an effort to spread awareness of the prevalence of noise aversion in those pups we love so much. Many dogs experience fear and anxiety when it comes to everyday noises (or even out of the ordinary noises) and for each pet, those anxieties and fears may have different symptoms or signs.
I never realized how many dogs, like Baxter, experience noise version, but 67% of dog owners say their dog experiences noise aversion symptoms when exposed to loud noises1 — vacuuming, the doorbell, a crying baby. I also wasn’t aware that a dog with noise aversion is similar to a person experiencing a panic attack and many pet owners perceive noise aversion as a behavior issue that they feel that they can manage with love and affection not a medical problem that requires treatment prescribed by a veterinarian. When left untreated, noise aversion can progress to a more severe state and impact the dog’s quality of life, which is why it’s SO important to talk to your vet if your dog is experiencing symptoms.
Some signs that your dog is experiencing “noise monsters” may include:
· panting
· trembling
· cowering
· hiding
· barking
· escape behavior
· lip licking
· restlessness
· yawning
· vocalizing
· refusing to eat
· abnormal clinginess
· freezing
· immobility
· burrowed ears
· hyper-vigilance
If these signs sound familiar, speak with your veterinarian about SileoÒ(dexmedetomidine oromucosal gel), a noise aversion treatment option from Zoetis that may be able to help your dog. Sileo is the first FDA-approved prescription medication for the treatment of canine noise aversion, and comes in a convenient gel that is applied between your dog’s cheek and gum. It also calms your dog without sedating and works quickly so you can apply it as soon as your dog experiences symptoms or 30-60 minutes before you know there will be noises that trigger your dog. It can also be re-dosed every 2-3 hours, as needed.
Head to whennoisehurts.com to learn more about noise aversion in dogs or click here to fill out the Zoetis Petcare Noise Aversion Checklist to get a better understanding of whether or not your dog is experiencing these “noise monsters” or anxieties in his or her life.
1 The Harris Poll: Custom Motion Sickness and Noise Aversion Omnibus Pet Owner Quantitative Research Report, December 2018
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Do not use SILEO in dogs with severe cardiovascular disease, respiratory, liver or kidney diseases, or in conditions of shock, severe debilitation, or stress due to extreme heat, cold or fatigue or in dogs hypersensitive to dexmedetomidine or to any of the excipients. SILEO should not be administered in the presence of preexisting hypotension, hypoxia, or bradycardia. Do not use in dogs sedated from previous dosing. SILEO has not been evaluated in dogs younger than 16 weeks of age or in dogs with dental or gingival disease that could have an effect on the absorption of SILEO. SILEO has not been evaluated for use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs or for aversion behaviors to thunderstorms. Transient pale mucous membranes at the site of application may occur with SILEO use. Other uncommon adverse reactions included emesis, drowsiness or sedation. Handlers should avoid direct exposure of SILEO to their skin, eyes or mouth. Failure to lock the ring-stop on the syringe before dosing SILEO could potentially lead to an accidental overdose. Always review INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE before dispensing and dosing. See full Prescribing Information: https://bit.ly/2FCeyP8
SILEO® is trademark owned by Orion Corporation Orion Pharma Animal Health. It is manufactured by Orion Corporation and distributed by Zoetis under license from Orion Corporation Orion Pharma Animal Health. SIL-00463
