10 Questions with

Pet Health

Noise Phobia

By Jaime Speed, DVM

Summer….the time for swimming, barbeques, family time…. and the time for thunderstorms and fireworks. Your pet may have issues with storms and fireworks because noise phobia is a common problem in household pets. This fear can develop from any noise including thunder, gunshots, fireworks, garbage trucks, car alarms, or vacuum cleaners. Phobias can be passed down genetically, develop from a lack of socialization during key learning periods, come from a bad experience, be exacerbated due to underlying illness, or develop with aging. There are certain breeds, such as herding breeds, that are more susceptible, and females are more commonly affected than males. Furthermore, dogs with separation anxiety are more likely to develop noise phobias.

Signs of anxiety can range from mild, such as clinging to their owners, hiding, licking their lips, yawning, and hypersalivation, to severe signs such as trembling, barking, destroying items, or inappropriately eliminating.

Treatment of noise phobias requires a multi step approach. No single treatment is likely to be successful. The basic formula is Avoidance of fear + Behavioral Modification + Anxiolytics. Some examples of anxiolytics include herbal supplements and compression therapy. L-Theanine has been found to decrease anxiety in cats

and to decrease fear behavior in dogs. Alpha-casozepine is a cow milk derivative that has shown to lower stress related urinary tract disease in cats and reduce fear of strangers in dogs. Magnolia officinalis and Phellodendron amurense have improved mood disorders and protect the brain from the effects of stress. Compression clothing, such as the thundershirt and T-touch wraps can be quite beneficial for many animals. Calming music, white noise, massage, and acupuncture can also be beneficial.

Examples of products that help to calm your pet include Composure treats, Solliquin chews, Adaptil collars and diffusers, Feliway sprays and diffusers, Ear muffs, and calming caps. CBD is commonly marketed for pets but at this time none of the recent legalization efforts have included pet products. Quality control is lacking at this time for these products, and the proper dose is simply found by trial and error. Your Veterinarian is not legally able to recommend these products yet. Research is currently being done on these supplements in pets regarding safety and efficacy and your Veterinarian will advise you once more is known. In cases of noise phobia, planning for noisy events is key. Speak to your veterinarian about whether prescription medications may be appropriate for your pet. It is helpful to do this weeks before an event takes place so you have time to test the medications. On the day of the event, secure pets indoors and use a leash if taking them outside for a potty break. Make sure they have an identification tag or collar with your phone number. Provide a safe retreat, such as a crate, a favorite bed, or a closet where they feel safe. Allow your pet to choose this spot. You may consider playing music with a regular beat to disguise loud bursts from fireworks or thunder. Close the blinds and ideally keep them in an interior room. Provide extra water during these times as they often drink more when they are nervous. Give rewards during the event by playing with his favorite toy, giving him a puzzle to do,

Jaime Speed, DVM is part of the team at Rabun Animal Hospital in Mountain City, Georgia. Originally from West Virginia she attended UGA Veterinary School where she met her husband Brad Speed, DVM. She is the owner of Claws & Paws Pet Boutique on South Main Street in downtown Clayton, Georgia.

or giving another high value treat to help him associate good things with the noise. Finally, chewing is a stress reliever in dogs, so provide something for them to safely chew during this time. A major component of managing noise phobias is the behavior of the owner. It is important to maintain control of these situations and behave in a manner that supports your pet rather than adding to the problem. One of the most common mistakes made in managing noise phobias is when we “coddle” our pets. We want them to feel safe, so we hold them, pet them, give extra attention, and even allow them to break rules. The more we make a big deal out of storms and noises, the more we will reinforce the behavior in our pets. Although it feels counterintuitive, trying overtly to comfort your pet will end up making the fear worse. Instead, focus on staying calm and controlling the situation. Much like children, our pets will take emotional cues from us, and the calmer we remain during a crisis, the better they will respond. Next time that thunderstorm rolls in, pick up the ball and play some indoor fetch instead of hiding under the covers with your pet. You will be amazed over time how much it can help. There are plenty of ways to help pets manage through their fears during this rather loud time of the year. As always, start with your Veterinarian to get the best plan for managing the overall problem. For all the rest, be sure to stop by your local pet boutique for all your toy and supplement needs.

The Body Shop

By Dr. Sue Aery Aery Chiropractic & Acupuncture

When your car sputters a bit or leans to the right when driving straight, what do you do? Yes, you call the body shop or garage and make an appointment to have the engine checked and the wheels aligned. Of course you do! When your foot hurts or you begin limping, or you have a cough, what do you do? Often, you just leave it alone to see if it gets better. Now, I am not an alarmist, but there are many parallels to taking care of your body vs. taking care of your car. We, as humans, have an engine, a computer and “wheels” that make us move. Just as we would take our car in for an oil change, it is so important to do the same for your body. Keeping your engine running clean is equivalent to putting the right nutrition and lubricants into your own system. This basically represents what you eat and the supplements that you take to keep your “engine” running clean and efficiently. Now, when it comes to our “wheels”, let’s take an example. A bum knee, for instance, can really wreak havoc with the rest of the body structurally. Knee pain can lead to foot and ankle pain, hip pain, and even low back pain, leading to sciatica, or pain down the leg. Often times, in my office, I finally see someone after they have been suffering for weeks and months with pain that does not get better!!! If we only took the same care of our body as we do our car. Think now about what maintenance care might look like for your body. Getting your joints and spine checked on a regular basis has so many positive benefits - not just how you move, but how you function. A spinal adjustment can positively affect your nervous system (the master control or computer), your breathing and your heart function (these are both autonomic functions controlled by your nervous system and brain), and your immune system (this handles pain and inflammation as well as your natural defense). Knowing all of this, doesn’t it make perfect sense to take the same care of your body as you do your vehicle? Maintenance care is so easy and, in the long run, can help to slow the aging process, allow you to move more comfortably with confidence, and it really helps to keep the wobble out of your walk! PAIN FREE!

Dr. Sue Aery is the owner of Aery Chiropractic and Clayton Ortho Stem at 91 East Savannah Street, Suite 202, Clayton, Georgia. Appointments are available through online booking at www.atlantaorthostem.com or www.aerychiropractic.com or by calling 828-200-4476. Hours and availability are also posted on the websites.