Thunderstorms, hurricanes, wind storms and tornadoes are very stressful for some pets. Storm-stressed pets show signs of nervousness such as pacing, panting, chewing and drooling). They can also display behavioral signs such as hiding, owner seeking, trembling, vocalizing, trying to escape and destruction, which can be dangerous, as phobic dogs have been known to break through screen doors or windows in an attempt to escape.

Check the Pet Forecast

Here are a few tips from HomeoPet to keep your pet calm and safe during storms:

1. Leave your pets at home and indoors. Many pets are afraid of storms and may try to run away.

2. Close all doors and windows and put on ambient audio, such as a radio or CD player, to muffle the sound.

3. Close curtains and blinds to block view of the lightning.

4. Be sure that your pets are wearing identification tags or have microchips in case they do run away or get lost.

5. Try to distract your pet with chew toys and games, or play with another pet that does not share his fear.

6. Desensitization techniques (done ahead of time, not during a storm) with appropriate sound CDs, such as thunder, fireworks, trains, sirens, etc. may help pets become accustomed to the sounds at a lower volume, then as they become more comfortable, gradually increase the volume.

7. If your pet has storm phobias, speak to your veterinary clinic staff about a veterinary-only, non-sedating remedy such as HomeoPet Storm Stress to keep your pet calm during storm seasons.

Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

For more information, visit www.homeopet.com and www.homeopetpro.com.