• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.494-497
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• 2012

A 6-year-old castrated male Miniature Pinscher dog was referred due to shaking, panting and inappropriate elimination during thunderstorms. The dog had noise phobia after a car accident two years ago. The intensity of the fear of noise, especially with thunderstorms, worsened during the past 3 months (thunderstorm season). Physical examination revealed hyperthermia, tachypnea (panting), mild tachycardia, and an elevated systolic blood pressure. Laboratory examination revealed mild polycythemia with a lower oxygen pressure and saturation. Based on the history, physical examination, and laboratory tests, the dog was diagnosed as a noise phobia concurrent with relative polycythemia. Treatment was initiated with behavior modification with desensitization, counter-conditioning, and medication. Music therapy was also used and appeared to be beneficial. Clinical signs including polycythemia are improved. This case indicates that relative polycythemia can be occurred by chronic mental stress, such as noise phobia in a dog.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2023

An 8-year-old female neutered Maltese dog exhibited signs of serious thunderstorm phobia including panting, wandering, shivering, hiding, crying or whining, or trying to escape from the house. In this study, we administered clomipramine and alprazolam and observed behavioral improvement for 3 years. Clinical symptoms measured according to the storm phobia assessment (SPA) were significantly high with an initial total score of 19 points. However, it improved to a total score of 8 on day 176 after drugs administration and returned to the normal level with the total score of 5 points on the 983 days. When the symptoms for the first 4 treatments and the last 4 treatments were compared in 2 groups, the total score of all clinical symptoms decreased to -62.83% in the last 4 treatments. This study found that treatment with alprazolam and clomipramine was associated with a decrease in clinical signs of storm anxiety, suggesting that two drugs would be effective in reducing symptoms caused by anxiety, thunderstorm phobia, and noise phobia. In this follow up study, we hope that more studies would be conducted on behavior modification for treatment of storm phobia in veterinary medicine.