At Mooikloof Kennels & Cattery, the majority of our guests are housed indoors in brick and mortar buildings. These buildings were specifically designed to cater to the needs of sound sensitive, older and cold sensitive guests. Please let us know in advance if you know or suspect that your pet is scared of thunder. Consult with your vet about anxiety-reducing medication and bring it along when checking in.

Signs of thunder phobia include the following:

  • Hyperventilation (panting)
  • Seeking close physical contact with humans
  • Hiding
  • Running away (escaping)
  • Hypersalivation (drooling)
  • Shivering

Some pets become so fearful that they sustain serious injuries during attempts to escape the noise. Pets showing these signs are likely to get worse over time, therefore veterinary behaviourists recommend anxiety-reducing medication on an as-needed basis as soon as any signs of phobia are detected. Pets who become progressively more anxious would usually require permanent medication of a different kind. All these medications can only be obtained from a veterinarian.

A pet with an existing phobia may experience a higher level of anxiety in a strange environment like a boarding facility. We therefore strongly recommend that if you have a pet with any level of discomfort during thunderstorms or any other loud noises, you obtain the necessary anxiety-reducing medication from your vet to be administered during the pet’s stay with us.

At Mooikloof Kennels & Cattery, we watch the skies and weather forecast continuously. When we hear a storm approaching, we take all the guests inside and medicate those who have anxiety-reducing medication. All our guests are monitored during thunder activity. If no medication was supplied and your pet shows signs of anxiety, we will administer emergency anxiety-reducing medication through our vet. You will be informed as quickly as possible and charged for the cost of the medication as well as a dispensing fee. You will be provided with a copy of the record of dispensed medication when collecting your pet.

It is, however, important that the phobia is dealt with comprehensively on a long-term basis to ensure optimal quality of life for your pet. While there are other excellent modalities that can be used alone or in conjunction with medication to treat sound phobia in pets, such as Tellington TTouch and behaviour modification, the drugs mentioned provide immediate relief in an emergency situation when a suitably qualified and authorised person is not immediately available to assist with other modalities.

Please contact us to find out more about managing your pet's phobia on a long-term basis.