Thunderstorm Phobia
By Kelley Bollen, MS, CABC
Certified Animal Behavior Consultant
It’s that time of year again - when those scary loud claps of thunder send your dog under the bed, into the tub or onto your lap. Thunderstorm phobia is a common affliction in dogs because they just don’t understand where those sudden loud sounds come from. Think about how you feel when you are woken in the night by the sound of a loud bang from downstairs. You are immediately concerned that something fell or that someone is in your house. Loud unexpected noises scare us all. But we humans have the advantage of being able to understand what thunder is. Dogs have no way of understanding this phenomenon.
So how do we help our dogs learn that thunderstorms are not all that bad? The process is called systematic desensitization and counterconditioning. Systematic desensitization refers to the process of exposing the dog to the scary stimulus at its lowest possible intensity, increasing the intensity slowly over time. Counterconditioning refers to the process of pairing something positive with the scary stimulus. So in the case of thunder phobia you would start to pair amazingly wonderful treats or a fun game of fetch or tug with the sound of the thunder when the storm is way off in the distance, continuing as the storm gets closer and closer. The problem with this scenario however is that dogs hear the storms coming before we do because of their incredible auditory sense and once they trigger to fear, it’s often hard to get them to relax enough to eat or play. So to help us with this behavior modification work there are thunderstorm desensitization CD’s available that you can play on a regular basis (preferably before storm season) to help your dog learn a new association.
While desensitizing your dog to the sound of thunder can be very helpful in the early stages of this affliction, it is often the case that dogs have already associated all of the other aspects of the storm with the thunder. This is because dogs learn through association and connect things in their mind very easily. So, the lightening, dark skies, wind kicking up, and even barometric changes become associated with the thunder and therefore trigger the same emotional response as the thunder itself. And these are things that are hard to recreate in order to desensitize the dog to them.
So, if your dog is in the early stages of thunderstorm phobia where just the thunder is scary, try giving him amazing treats or playing a fun game during a storm. It might also be helpful to purchase a thunderstorm desensitization CD to use in between storms. If your dog has learned that everything connected with the storm is scary, you can try the above procedure but it may not be helpful as once a dog is frightened he may not eat or play. In those cases you should comfort your dog in any way that you can. You may have heard people say “don’t reward the fear” by comforting your dog when he is afraid. But fear is an emotion and you cannot “reward” it - its just there. Think about how you would feel if you were afraid of flying. Would you feel better if your seat mate held your hand and told you everything is going to be okay or if he/she just ignored you? Dogs look to us for comfort and help when they are afraid. Be there for your dog. Let him in your lap if that is what he wants. If he prefers to get into the tub or under the bed, let him do that. Whatever helps the dog through the scary event. Some dogs actually benefit from medication during storms. If your dog has severe thunderstorm phobia, speak to your veterinarian about a sedative that might help him through the storm season.
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When in Doubt, Stay Out!
Red ocean tide, blue-green algae blooms in lakes and ponds are toxic to animals
By Joann Lindenmayer, DVM, MPH
Red Tide
Red tide, which causes a serious illness known as paralytic shellfish poisoning, describes a bloom of red-pigmented algae in marine waters that can give the water a reddish appearance. These blooms contain neurotoxins that are harmful to humans and animals alike. Filter-feeding shellfish ingest the algae and it gets concentrated in their bodies, leading to extensive bans on their harvesting. As of July 17th, 2021, the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries banned harvesting of all softshell and razor clams.
While both humans and animals can experience respiratory and skin irritation from swimming in waters affected by red tide, dogs may become severely ill or even die if they ingest the toxins by eating dead fish and shellfish or licking their wet coats after swimming.
To keep your dog safe, keep pets inside during red tide blooms if you live near a beach. If you must go, don’t allow dogs to ingest dead fish and wash your dog as soon as possible if they go swimming or come into contact with sea foam, which can contain the toxin. If your dog is exposed, seek veterinary medical treatment immediately and let them know of the exposure.
Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria are blue-green algae that bloom in warm, still waters, especially those with high concentrations of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus. If the blooms are large enough, they can give the water a greenish appearance with a blue shimmer and a foul smell, but they can be missed if they’re small.
As of July 30th, 2021, 20 lakes and ponds with cyanobacterial blooms have been reported to the MDPH by local, state and federal partners that manage or regulate the respective waterbody, although there may be others that have not been reported.
Animals can be exposed to the toxins by swallowing water, licking it off their fur, or catching balls that have been thrown into the water. Signs of poisoning can be minor such as irritated skin or eyes, or they can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, or neurological signs like ataxia or seizures, which can sometimes be fatal.
To keep your dog safe, if you’re in doubt about whether or not there’s a blue-green algal bloom, keep your dog out of the water. If s/he has been exposed, rinse the dog off and seek veterinary medical attention immediately.
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RECAP
MAC 2021 Webinar Series: Words Matter
Speaker: Aimee Christian - Vice President of Animal Welfare & Veterinary Medicine
at the Animal Rescue League of Boston
By Anne Lindsay
We had a great zoom meeting on August 9th about how “Words Matter.” Aimee Christian, Vice President of Animal Welfare & Veterinary Medicine at the Animal Rescue League of Boston, brought her wealth of experience to the table to talk about this very important topic.
Aimee suggested that so many words and phrases have gone unchallenged for a long time and it’s time we each consider taking a look in the mirror. Do we even know how our words can hold the power to motivate but also to deflate?
Aimee talked about microagressions – saying something to someone without realizing the damage your words might cause. This also pertains to how we approach people about spay and neuter services, adoption, pet care, and how we speak to people in their own community.
The very first step is to trust your clients by acknowledging that they are the experts about their own pets. By closing our mouths and opening our ears we can learn a lot about someone’s relationship with their pets. Conversely, clients need to be able to trust us and Aimee suggested that we all look into the Pets for Life philosophy. (See https://humanepro.org/programs/pets-for-life)
Some of our animal welfare terminology that we use on a regular basis can be offensive to people:
Responsible breeding, responsible pet owner. There is no definition for the word “responsible” so using it implies judgment and we all should work toward adopting a nonjudgmental approach. Aimee challenged us to recognize that sometimes someone simply just doesn’t know about a particular issue and they are not necessarily being irresponsible.
“Us” and “them” both of which are very “othering.” And “these people” is also divisive. People have names. Generalizing about groups of people in the community furthers division and shows disrespect.
To “educate” can be condescending. We have all said that in our shelter literature. Consider “sharing information” as a more welcoming way to start and continue a conversation.
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The words “neglectful” and “cruel” are used most of the time in neighborhoods with limited resources where there may be a difference between good enough animal care and how our own animals might live. These situations are not always cruelty and neglect and the wrong attitude and word choices can cause damage. Sometimes when punitive actions are taken what the clients really need is guidance and information.
Rather than “helping” people consider saying that your organization will “provide services” and “support communities.”
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Referring to communities as “at risk” and “poor” would be better described as “underserved” or being in a “resource desert.”
The word “target” can be replaced with “area of focus.” Or you could refer to a specific neighborhood or audience.
“Feral” or “stray” animals can imply that they are not connected to owners and caretakers. “Community cats” could be a better term, depending on the situation. Be careful about the assumption. Community cats implies owners and caretakers.
“Always” and “never“ are two words to avoid.
When you say something is “actually” a good idea it comes across as if it’s a surprise that someone had such a great idea. When you tell someone that they should “just” do it this way it can be belittling.
As Aimee pointed out, it all starts with us being open and honest with ourselves before bringing this discussion back to our organizations. It could all result in some interesting possibilities!
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Click below to view the webinar: |
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More Great Resources for You!
Are you a member of the American Pets Alive! Shelter and Rescue Support Group? Or the Animal Welfare Leadership Roundup Group?
Check them out and join today! Here are two of their facebook groups:
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The American Pets Alive! Shelter and Rescue Support Group is to provide support to shelters and rescues in their efforts to create sustainable, lifesaving communities where every pet is given a chance at life and to help organizations end the needless killing of pets in their shelters and rescues. This group is primarily for shelter workers, volunteers and rescue organizations and is open to any staff or volunteer. The group is committed to embracing the values of Human Animal Support Services. These are cultural humility, connection, lifesaving, community-centered, justice, and equity.
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The Animal Welfare Leadership Roundup Group is a diverse group of animal welfare leaders including animal shelter directors, national organization leadership and shelter medicine veterinarians. The goal of this group is to provide a space for discussing the unique challenges and opportunities of today's animal welfare landscape. Also, this group digs into the intersections between animal welfare and human social services and social justice, exploring how to transform animal services to meet the demands of today's world. Are you an ED, assistant ED, director, deputy director, national organization executive, or veterinarian? Then this group is for you!
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Here's an example of the great topics you will have access to... |
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The Animal Welfare Leadership Roundup Group hosted Dr. Sheila Segurson recently and she talked about Trauma, Stress and Dog Behavior. In this fascinating presentation you'll hear how trauma in a dog’s life can affect behavior and how it mirrors the research done in the human field.
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Click below for the original presentation |
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Click below for Dr. Segurson’s presentation on behavioral foster for HASS’s foster working group: |
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Community Cat Voices
COVID-19 Video Series
Thursdays at 12pm
WEEKLY Zoom call for all animal welfare organizations in the area to come together and discuss concerns and best practices for handling this situation with regards to the corona virus.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 454 825 6521
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MAC is committed to keeping you all up to date on resources, tools and best practices during these unprecedented times. |
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Check Out the Resources on MAC's Website
Are you aware of how much MAC has to offer beyond educational meetings, programs and task forces?
Have you ever checked out our Resources pages?
If you are looking for spay/neuter services in your area check out our Find a Spay/Neuter Clinic page. Simply enter your zip code and we will find clinics close to you!
MAC is here for you! Be sure to take advantage of all that we have to offer!
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For $10 A Year You Can Be A MAC Member!
Joining MAC is a great way to become more involved in animal welfare, meet others who are doing similar work, make friends and connections, and hear from experts in the field. For more info visit our membership page.
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Massachusetts Animal Coalition Facebook Page |
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