Canine Noise Phobia: Diagnosis and Treatment

Karen Sueda, DVM, Dipl. ACVB

Based on a 2013 study by Blackwell, et al., what percentage of clients reported that their dog was fearful in response to noise?

a) 5% or 1 in 20 clients

b) 10% or 1 in 10 clients

c) 25% or 1 in 4 clients

d) 50% or 1 in 2 clients

In addition to obtaining a detailed description of the dog’s behavior in response to a specific noise trigger, determining how frequently the dog is exposed to the noise trigger is important because frequency:

a) Aids in the diagnosis of noise phobia

b) Helps determine how severely the dog’s welfare is impacted

c) Affects the dog’s response to treatment and overall prognosis

d) May determine what type of anti-anxiety medication you recommend

e) All of the above

Co-morbidities exist between canine noise phobia and other behavior diagnoses. Which of the following questions should you ask a client whose dog has been diagnosed with noise phobia?

a) How does your dog behave when home alone?

b) How does your dog react to other dogs on walks?

c) How often does your dog urinate or defecate in the house?

d) How does your dog behave when you take food, treats or toys away from him or her?

A 5 yo male, neutered, 65 lbs, mixed breed dog presents to you on June 15th for panting, pacing, hypersalivating and trying to escape from home when he hears fireworks. His owner reports that she already hears fireworks daily and expects the frequency to worsen as the 4th of July draws closer. In previous years, fireworks continue on an intermittent basis throughout July. What pharmaceutical protocol would be most appropriate?

a) Ultra-fast anxiolytic (e.g. Sileo®) administered every time the dog exhibits anxiety

b) Fast-acting anxiolytic (e.g. trazodone) administered q 8-12 hours and PRN when anxiety occurs

c) Long-lasting, anxiolytic (e.g. fluoxetine) administered once daily throughout June and July

d) Combination of a long-lasting anxiolytic (e.g. fluoxetine) administered daily, a fast-acting anxiolytic (e.g. trazodone) administered PRN when anxiety occurs and an ultra-fast anxiolytic (e.g. Sileo®) for more profound anxiety

To reduce the dog’s firework phobia the following year, desensitization and counter-conditioning exercises are recommended. This entails:

a) Continuously playing a firework recording starting at a low volume then gradually increasing the volume every 1-2 hours

b) Continuously playing a firework recording at loud volume until the dog no longer responses in a fearful or anxious manner

c) Playing a firework recording at a loud volume while the dog is engaged in a pleasurable activity such as eating treats or playing fetch

d) Playing a firework recording at a low volume while the dog is engaged in a pleasurable activity such as eating treats or playing fetch; the volume is slightly increased if the dog does not exhibit any signs of fear or anxiety