Are anxiety wraps effective? While there is little data confirming the efficacy of anxiety wraps, there is a lot anecdotal evidence that they do help some dogs. Pet owners often note a decreased anxiety to troubling stimuli when their dog wears a vest.
How dog anxiety vests help. Think of anxiety vests as the weighted blankets of the animal world. Veterinarian Lindsay Butzer, DVM, who is a spokesperson for pet supplement brand, Zesty Paws, says that by applying constant pressure, anxiety vests are able to relieve anxiety and induce a calming effect for nervous pups.
We recommend removing ThunderShirt every one to two hours the first few times to be sure everything is fitting correctly and your pet is happy. Irritation or other issues are very rare, but it's always best to be cautious. AND, always remove the ThunderShirt at least twice a day if using for extended periods.
Physical Contact. There is probably nothing more soothing to an anxious dog than its owner's touch. Try to identify the signs of anxiety in your dog and nip them in the bud as early as possible by picking them up, cuddling on the couch, or giving them a good long petting session.
A ThunderShirt is the easiest, safest solution to try for your dog's separation anxiety. ThunderShirt works by applying a gentle, calming pressure around your dog's torso. It's like a “hug” and relaxes most dogs.
Give your dog at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity (for example, running and swimming) every day. Try to exercise your dog right before you have to leave him by himself. This might help him relax and rest while you're gone. Play fun, interactive games with your dog, such as fetch and tug-of-war.
Put ThunderShirt in your laundry basket for a day or two so it absorbs your scent, and smells familiar to your pet. They'll immediately feel more comfortable with the ThunderShirt since it reminds them of you.
Separation anxiety is treatable, but treatment takes time and can be expensive. To avoid unnecessary costs, try to establish a routine that works for your schedule and that keeps your dog safe during necessary absences.
Common signs of anxiety in dogs include:
Barking or howling when owner isn't home. Panting and pacing (even when it's not hot) Shivering. Running away and/or cowering in the corner of a house.
Common causes include change in ownership, environment, or traumatic events. With the proper treatment for separation anxiety, such as desensitization, counterconditioning, and in some cases, medication, you can help alleviate symptoms of separation anxiety in your pooch.
Are there any downsides to using a ThunderShirt? Generally, no, there are no side effects seen with using a ThunderShirt. It is not advised to use them in particularly warm weather for obvious reasons. Care ought to be taken when using them for elderly pets or those with certain health conditions.
How Long Can You Keep a Thundershirt on a Dog? If need be, the dog can wear the his or her thundershirt all day long. It's not bad for your pet. However, it is advise to remove the thundershirt for about 10 minutes every 1 to 2 hours in order to avoid irritation.
87% of owners reported that ThunderShirt was helpful in improving behavior during noise events (29% mild improvement, 29% moderate improvement, and 29% excellent improvement).
Dogs can develop anxiety as early as fourteen weeks of age, and experiences early in life can affect their anxiety. Dogs from puppy mills mya be at higher risk of anxiety, due to the conditions they were exposed to right after birth.
Anxiety in dogs is seldom a simple diagnosis
If your dog is nervous, and maybe even somewhat fearful at times, it's wise to look deeply into what may be causing these behavioral issues and then devise a plan to help your dog become more confident. An anxious dog is an unhappy dog.
The onset of fear or anxiety issues in dogs can be prompted by a variety of things, from puppy socialization issues and age-related health conditions like dementia to traumatic experiences or genetics.
Usually, dogs do not outgrow separation anxiety. Very mild separation anxiety may improve over time, but that isn't the case in most instances of moderate to severe separation anxiety. The condition has nothing to do with age, so it's not likely to improve on its own without some sort of intervention and treatment.
Dogs with separation-related behavior problems engage in unwanted behavior such as destruction of property and excessive vocalization when left alone, causing distress for both the dog and the owner, and often leading to the dog being relinquished or euthanized.
Help for Canine Separation Anxiety
It will not go away on its own, and most often a complete "cure" is never experienced. But, there are many things an owner can do right away to begin to ease the symptoms. Separation Anxiety can range from minor to severe.
Final Verdict: Do ThunderShirts Work? Based on the science, the experts, and our own experience, the verdict is clear: compression can and does help to calm anxious dogs, and the ThunderShirt is perfectly designed to deliver that helpful pressure. So yes, ThunderShirts do work for many dogs.
How tightly should I wrap the Thundershirt on my dog? Comfortably snug around the torso and never restrictive around the neck area. The Thundershirt should not cause any discomfort for your dog, but should apply gentle constant pressure around the torso. It's the pressure that provides the calming benefit.
Yes, dogs can definitely wear the Thundershirt on a walk. However, on very hot days, we would recommend that your dog does not wear their Thundershirt while walking due to the risk of overheating.
Recent research has shown that dogs with mild separation anxiety fare better when alone with one minute of slow, gentle petting and soothing talk from their owner just before leaving than being ignored. Dogs with moderate to severe cases should be ignored or just get a “See you tonight” as you walk out.
Expect to spend around two months working with your dog to alleviate his separation anxiety. Taking it slowly during the early stages–getting your dog comfortable at the moment of your departure–will allow the later stages of lengthening your time away to much more quickly.