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Clinical Insights
Noise Aversion (Phobia)
Noise sensitivity or aversion (phobia) is one of the most common problematic behaviors that concerns dog owners. The owner is not only worried about the dog’s distress but understandably disturbed by the financial and emotional costs of destruction, house soiling or additional unwanted behaviors. The owner may not recognize a problem when it is mild (panting, hiding, salivating, hyperactivity or escape attempts) but will wait to address the problem when there is destructiveness and/or self trauma. These cases may certainly be managed by a general practitioner or they may be referred to a veterinary behavior specialist. Failing to treat noise aversions may contribute to disruption of the Human-Animal bond and lead to mistreatment, abandonment, relinquishment or euthanasia.
Some DO’s and DON’Ts for Noise Aversion (Phobia)
- Don’t punish the dog when it is scared; it confirms a reason to be afraid.
- Don’t sympathize or reassure the dog when it is afraid; it reinforces the negative behavior.
- Do ignore fearful behavior that occurs for no reason or pretend to be very happy during your normal routine with the dog.
- Do make sure the dog is in a safe environment so it cannot bolt and run away if a sudden noise occurs.
- Do provide a safe and secure retreat to help the dog cope. The dog needs to be trained to associate this place with pleasant experiences.
- Do treat the immediate crisis with benzodiazepines to reduce anxiety but avoid when training as it may inhibit learning.
- Don’t use phenothiazines (acepromazine) as a single drug choice as it sedates the dog but the dog is still afraid.
- Do use pheromones products (DAP) in the management of the immediate crisis and while training. Use sound recordings that will gradually desensitize the dog’s response.
- Do use frequent, short training sessions rather than longer ones.
- Do consider tricyclic antidepressants (clomipramine/Clomicalm®) or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors – SSRIs (fluoxetine/Reconsile®) for long term management and the training period.
- Do encourage owners that it is not too late or the problem is not too severe to consider treatment because these factors to not seem to predict outcome.
Reference: Sherman BL, Mills DS. Canine Anxieties and Phobias: An Update on Separation Anxiety and Noise Aversions. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Practice 2008; 38(5):1081
