ThunderShirt" for Pet Anxiety

dturm wrote:

Dog Folks wrote:
Personally, I feel a Thundershirt is always the first alternative to try before drugging the animal.

Depends on degree. I've had patients that have caused physical harm to themselves trying to get under beds, chewing through doors or going through glass doors. Trial and error use of "more natural" remedies wouldn't be my first choice in these cases.

Then you have the issues of the behavior becoming habitual while you are messing around, trying to find a solution that works.

As much as people dislike a "drug" approach (and I generally agree), we've come a long way from just giving them acepromazine and tranquilizing them. The newer anti-anxiety medications and combinations along with retraining and something like a thundershirt can very rapidly address these types of problems (in most cases).

Doug, DVM

I agree with Dr. Doug. I have a bit of an issue with vets and pet owners who are resistant to or hesitant about prescribing/using drugs for anxiety, noise phobias, etc. These problems are every bit as debilitating as many physical issues for which the vet/owner wouldn't hesitate to medicate.