Do Springtime Thunderstorms Cause Your Dog to Panic?

Lady was a big Shepherd-looking dog of unknown origin. She came into our lives when she invaded a friend’s house during a thunderstorm. She didn’t know them, but knew she intended to get in somewhere, so she went through the screen door.

She was OK during a storm as long as she could get into the house and under something. But one day we weren’t home when the storm hit. We returned to find every screen on every door and window shredded. Poor Lady!

Why do dogs do this?

Some are simply afraid of noise and want to get away from it and hide. Others seem to be affected by the static electricity in the air. These dogs instinctively want to “ground” themselves by seeking shelter in a bathtub or on a ceramic floor. Our dog Harry always hid behind the toilet during a storm. No attempts to comfort him were successful – while he was a dog who usually liked to cuddle, all he wanted during a storm was to be behind the toilet.

Change in barometric pressure can also affect dogs – these are the ones who try to get to “low ground” so they’ll try to hide in the basement.

The dogs who rule our house these days don’t seem affected by storms or by noise in general, but if they were, I’d be sure to have a bottle of “Thunderstorms” handy.

I only wish I’d had it when Lady and Harry were alive, because I know it would have eased their suffering.

Thunderstorms is specially formulated for this kind of fear and panic, but if a storm arrives before you have a bottle on hand, do give your dog a dose of Feel5ive.

Feel5ive is for use with all kinds of stress and anxiety - so if you're upset because the dog is upset, give yourself a dose as well!

Plan Ahead for Happy Pets this Holiday Season

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, and all the other holidays can be stressful times for your pets.

You're busier than ever, possibly not giving them the attention they crave. You're also likely to be a little bit wound up from the extra tasks you've assigned yourself. Since pets do pick up on their human's anxieties, they may be upset just because you're becoming frazzled.

On top of that, two other stressful events can upset their lives:

*Too many strangers in the house, some of whom aren't very smart around pets, and

*Being displaced from home to either accompany you on a holiday visit or to be left in a kennel.

To get ready for these events, now is a good time to make sure you have two important pet remedies on your shelf: "Feel5ive for Pets," and "Home Alone."

The Feel5ive will help them remain calm while they deal with strangers and the hubub that occurs when the house is filled with extra people. It will also help them stay calm in the car while you're traveling.

To alleviate depression and anxiety if you're leaving your pets in a kennel, you need Home Alone. Start giving it a day or two before you leave, and give the kennel operators specific instructions to put it in your pet's water dish every day until you return.

Home Alone is also good to use if shopping and visiting are keeping you away from home for longer periods than normal during the day or evening. (If you have a dog or cat who always suffers from separation anxiety, this should be a part of his or her routine every day.)

FeelBach's other pet product - Thunder Storms - may also be needed, depending upon where you live. Some communities do like to shoot fireworks, especially for New Year's Eve. If your dog will panic when that happens, plan ahead with this Bach Flower Essence blend in the water dish all day.

At only $7.95 each, these products can assure your pets of a happy holiday season - and if you're a pet lover, you know what that's worth to you, as well as to them.

One more thing - don't forget about yourself!

Thanks to Dr. Bach, there's no reason for you to go through this holiday season under stress. Feel5ive may be all you need to stay calm, but if you have other old issues that mar the holidays, do take the FeelBach! questionnaire and get help.

Are Your Pets Afraid of Thunder?

The last few days have been noisy around here - between the wind, the hail pelting against the windows, and the thunder.

Fortunately, my 3 dogs don't come completely unglued. Ralph just lays there and looks at the others like he can't figure out what's wrong with them, while Suzie and Pepper rush to sit as near my feet as possible.

Sometimes when a storm starts while I'm cooking dinner it's a trial, because every time I take a step I trip over someone. But at least they aren't hiding in a corner, shaking, or trying to run somewhere to get away from it.

Still, when I see them getting nervous like that, I give them a dose of Thunderstorms, from Feel Bach!, because there's no sense in letting them be upset when the cure is so simple.

If your dogs - or cats - get upset over thunderstorms, they need it too. And if other thunder-like noise frightens them, you should be sure to have a bottle on hand before the 4th of July brings the noise of fireworks.

When I worked in animal rescue, the week after the 4th was a nightmare. Some people were calling looking for lost pets while others were calling to report found pets. Sadly, I know a few whose dogs ran so far that they were never found.

If your pet is frightened, be kind, order Thunderstorms today and ease those fears.

Bach flower essences are a remedy you can use without fear, even if your dog is on medication. There are no side effects, no drug interactions, and it's impossible to overdose.

Enjoy Spring and Summer this year, knowing that your precious pets can enjoy it too - even on noisy days.

Holidays and Your Dog

Memorial Day week-end - the start of the summer season for tourists, and here in Idaho, probably a disappointment to many. Cold wet weather isn't the friendliest setting for camping and boating, but I still saw plenty of people headed toward the lake today.

Many of those tourists had dogs with them, and this week-end they'll probably enjoy the vacation. But the next big holiday will be a different story. Fourth of July stands out as the holiday when the most dogs get lost. The noise of the fireworks scares even the calmest dogs, so they start running to get away from it, and many become hopelessly lost.

Even dogs who are kept in the house can be traumatized. So this year why not plan ahead? Get a bottle of Feel Bach's Thunder Storms remedy so both you and your dogs can enjoy the 4th.

This blend of flower essences helps dogs deal with all sorts of noises - like thunder storms, fireworks, and gun fire.

I'll never figure out why one of my dogs pays no attention to target practice, while another pays no attention to thunderstorms but gets scared even at the sight of a gun - or a gun case. She doesn't enjoy fireworks, either. I've had her since she was a pup, so I know no one has ever shot at her!

Meanwhile, the horses don't even look up from grazing when they hear gunshots or thunder. And they're supposed to be more high-strung than dogs.

Wishing you a memorable and happy holiday week-end!