SolveYourProblem Article Series: Hurricanes
Hurricane Facts, Tips and Safety Protocols

Your Pets and Hurricane Trauma

Hurricanes can be traumatic events for everyone involved, including pets. Just as adults and children alike may be a little worse for the wear after experiencing a hurricane, your household pets may also be jumpy right after the storm and at the first sound of an approaching storm in the future. You can help your pets deal with their fears and recover from the trauma they have experienced.

Right after a storm has passed, try to remain calm around your pet, and try to maintain as regular a routine as possible. Try to keep your pet on a normal feeding and play schedule. If you have a dog, take it for a walk on its usual route as soon as it is safe to reassure the animal and let it do its own investigation of the area. Damage and debris may throw them off as the scents and normal landmarks may have changed. Stay calm and give your dog a chance to become acclimated to its changed surroundings. One important thing to remember in the wake of a storm, however, is not to allow animals outside unsupervised until some the debris has been cleared and any downed electrical wires repaired. All of these things can pose a danger to your pet.

After living through a hurricane, your pet may become extremely fearful even of garden variety thunderstorms. If your pet does start acting out during a storm, do not baby it or yell at it. If you baby it, you will reinforce the behavior. If you yell at your animal, you will only frighten it more. Allow it to be near you during a storm, but try to keep your tone as calm and even as possible.

If your pet doesn’t get over its fear of storms after a hurricane, there are a few products you can use. Some vets recommend rubbing peppermint oil into dogs’ paws to soothe them. There are several all natural products on the market like Pluto’s Pet Calming Spray that will help your animal relax. Many animals like to retreat to hiding space during a storm - if they do so, let them. You can also create a secure space for pet by finding a place that is small, dark, and as quiet as possible and putting some food, treats, and toys in there to help them relax.

With cats and dogs, you may be able to distract them from the storm by playing with them with their favorite toys. Drag out the catnip for the cat or play a game of indoor fetch with the dog to try and keep their minds off the noise outside. All animals will appreciate a TV or radio turned on to help drown out the noise from the storm. If your animal is exhibiting severe fear of storms and nothing you do seems to help, you vet can refer you to a specialist who can teach your some behavioral tricks to help your pet.

Above all else, stay calm and have patience. Remember that animals are much more susceptible to changes in barometric pressure than humans, and the pressure drops associated with hurricanes and storms tells them instinctually that they are in danger. They simply can’t help it. If you overreact, you will only frighten them more. You should never kennel an animal during a storm, as you will only increase their fear by putting them in a place they cannot escape - many animals will even injure themselves trying to get out. With a little bit of patience on your part, your animal can recover from the trauma of a hurricane in the long run.

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by SolveYourProblem.com : 2007

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