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Comparison of the effectiveness of a purported anti-static cape (the Storm Defender®) vs. a placebo cape in the treatment of canine thunderstorm phobia as assessed by owners’ reports
- Source :
-
Applied Animal Behaviour Science . Jun2009, Vol. 119 Issue 1/2, p78-84. 7p. - Publication Year :
- 2009
-
Abstract
- Abstract: Canine thunderstorm phobia is considered a noise phobia, however, it has been theorized that pain associated with discharge of accrued static electricity could contribute to this malady. This project aimed to determine if a purported anti-static cape (the Storm Defender®) and a non-anti-static cape (placebo cape) were therapeutic for canine thunderstorm phobia. Twenty-three owners used either the Storm Defender® (n =13) or the placebo cape (n =10) on their dogs during four thunderstorms. A baseline pretreatment anxiety score (pre-cape use) and four treatment anxiety scores (with use of a cape) were generated by scoring owners’ responses to 12 questions that concerned the severity of behaviors associated with thunderstorm phobia. Use of both cape types was associated with a statistically significant decrease in median anxiety scores from baseline. After a fourth cape use, the median anxiety score of the Storm Defender® group decreased by 63% from baseline (P =0.005) and the placebo cape group''s median anxiety score decreased by 36% (P =0.002). Owners in both groups indicated that their dogs displayed significantly less hiding behavior by the fourth use of the cape. Seventy percent of owners who used the Storm Defender® on their dogs and 67% of the placebo cape owners reported some degree of improvement via a global assessment score, made after the fourth use of the cape. There was no statistically significant difference between the Storm Defender® and placebo cape groups in their baseline pretreatment anxiety scores, median treatment anxiety scores or in their owner global assessment. The results indicate that use of a form-fitting cape may be moderately therapeutic in treating canine thunderstorm phobia. More research is needed to determine why owners reported effectiveness with both cape types. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01681591
- Volume :
- 119
- Issue :
- 1/2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Applied Animal Behaviour Science
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 38802720
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2009.03.014