New Finding to Help Dogs Afraid of Thunderstorms
It’s that time of year again. As we broke record rainfall levels in north Texas this year, it seems thunder and lightening were the forgotten villains. Well, I’m beyond happy to share a new finding, which can reduce your dog’s anxiety during terrible thunderstorms. Drum roll please!
L-Theanine Calms Dogs During Thunderstorms
I’ve been successfully using this amino acid in the past to reduce fear and anxiety in dogs, and humans too. But now, we have scientific proof that L-Theanine works! If your dog is afraid of thunderstorms, I highly recommend taking a look at this research study.
Basically, the study proves L-Theanine reduces anxiety caused by thunderstorms. You’ll notice a decrease in fearful dog behavior such as:
- Pacing
- Drooling
- Heavy panting
- Vocalizing
- Trembling
- Seeking comfort from a person (e.g. waking you up, trying to get close to you and following you around)
- Hiding in a bathroom (sometimes in the bathtub) or closet
Now, L-Theanine is not a cure. It’s a preventive, and with everything a combination approach is always best. By preventing your dog from reacting to thunderstorms, over a period of time your dog’s anxiety will decrease. However, it’s not immediate. It’s accumulative.
To learn more about calming a thunder-phobic dog, take a peek at this article. It goes into further detail.
L-Theanine Dosage
This is a bit tricky, as I’ve taken too much L-Theanine in the past and felt overly exuberant (hyper). 🙂 I was happy and not a bit stressed in the least, but I had a ton of energy! So dogs may react this way too if given too much.
It’s even trickier dosing smaller dogs. I recommend products especially made for dogs that contain L-Theanine plus other calming supplements.
By far, my favorite brand is Composure by Vetri-Science. These pills are chewable and available, depending on your dog’s weight. Also, Composure contains colostrum calming complex, which promotes well-being during high-stress situations.
Anxitane by Virbac pills were used in the study. However, this product is currently out of stock nationwide. No one knows why or when it’ll be restocked. (This always makes me nervous.)
It’s best to dose your dog at least 20 minutes before a storm appears. Now, if a storm sneaks up on you, still give your dog a dose. Preventing anxiety from creeping in works best.
RELATED: Supplements for Anxiety in Dogs
