Thunderstorms

[DallasDelight]

I found out yesterday that Duncan is scared of thunderstorms!! Which isn’t good at all, because we get a lot of thunderstorms in the summer. Every single day, without fail, from May 1st – mid September. They aren’t normal thunderstorms that have a few flashes and rumble in the distance..they are pretty darn intense. The average lightning strike is less than half a mile from us, and we usually get a few strikes from each thunderstorm that are ON our 10 acres. The thunder is incredibly loud. A lot of times you’ll hear buzzing in your ears for a few minutes after one, so I can only imagine how that hurts bun ears!! And these aren’t storms that last for an hour..the small ones last for 5 hours. The normal ones last 8-12 hours and the big ones(get about 10 of them a month) last from 2pm and don’t end until 8 or 10am the next day.
Dallas had no problems adjusting to it when I got him last year. He just sleeps through them! I wasn’t sure how Duncan would react, but found out that he doesn’t react that well. We had some severe storms come through yesterday, got tornado-watched a few times..and Duncan didn’t like them at ALL. He would run in circles, jumping and shaking, then after a while he laid there really tense with his eyes bugging out, breathing like he was being eaten alive..and the thumping was insane. I swear he thumped 100 times or more! He was really spooked by it. And it’s even louder in our room because we’re upstairs on the 2nd floor.
Anybody ever have problems with this? Anything I can do to get him over the fear? He may just get used to them, but I’d rather he didn’t have a heart attack first….lol. Is there any food or medicine I can give him during a thunderstorm that will calm him down? I’m not sure exactly what to do, but I’m hoping I can do something, because we’ve only got a month and a few days before the daily storms start

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

No advice from me on the matter… I actually miss the thunderstorms I grew up with in Texas!

Hopefully he’ll begin to get more used to it!

[BunnyLiz]

Rescue Remedy? That might help some.

[MooBunnay]

Thats too bad that he is so scared. Maybe Dallas can teach Duncan that storms are not scary by the way that he stays calm during the storms. Other than that the only thing I can think is to call and ask your vet about your bunny’s storm anxiety. I have a friend who’s dog also gets storm anxiety and has a prescribed medication – but I have not heard of anything like that for rabbits before.

[BinkyBunny]

eohhh! Sounds scary! Maybe if you cover part of the cage/pen with a dark blanket, towel that may at least make them feel safer – as if they are in hiding. Or if they are more free range make a hideout area thats covered and compfy.

I also have heard about Rescue Remedy. I haven’t used it so I can’t offer any testimonial, but maybe someone else can.

I also think it would be a good idea to talk to your vet about this as well and see if there isn’t something s/he can suggest.

Hopefully, you will find some things that work soon. Definitely keep us updated with what ends up working.

[jerseygirl]

Wow, if they last that long, it would be difficult to get him to calm down. I also thought of Rescue Remedy or dried Chammomile flowers. Can you take him to a part of the house that is more sound proofed? Otherwise, provide a “safe” area as BB said that you can soundproof a bit may help. Also keeping Dallas with him. He may get accustomised to them in time

[KatnipCrzy]

I also recommend trying Rescue Remedy- maybe that will be enough to “take the edge” off of his fear and it could help him to realize there is nothing to be afraid of.  As long as the other rabbit is not in harms way and seems to have a calming influence I would keep them together.  Maybe he will help him to figure out that there is nothing to be frightened of if he is remaining calm.

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