Effectiveness of Integrated Medical Treatment for Thunderstorm Aversion: A Case Series of 23 Dogs.

Canine thunderstorm aversion (CTA) is a significant challenge to pets, owners, and veterinarians. The objective of this research was to determine if traditional Chinese veterinary medicine (TCVM) treatment with acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, basic desensitization and counterconditioning (DSCC) with a behavior modification drug, could lessen the severity of CTA in dogs. A total of 23 dogs that exhibited behaviors typical of thunderstorm aversion were enrolled in the study. At study start, all dogs received a TCVM Pattern diagnosis and were treated with Pattern-specific Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture points. In addition, owners received DSCC behavior modification protocols and a conventional drug (alprazolam) to be used as needed during thunderstorms. Dogs were examined once a month for 4 months and Chinese herbal medicine formulations and acupuncture treatment adjusted as TCVM Patterns changed. After 120 days of treatment, the mean±SD improvement in overall thunderstorm aversion behaviors in study participants was 77.2%±27.7% (p < 0.0001). This result was significantly greater than 52% (p = 0.002), a reported mean improvement percentage for conventional treatment only, after 4 months. Six of the 7 individual aversion behaviors (panting, pacing, trembling, hiding, excess salivation, excess vocalization) had a significant reduction (range: p =0.046 to p = 0.008) over the course of treatment. The study results demonstrated that integrative management of CTA with TCVM Pattern-specific treatments combined with a conventional rescue drug and behavior modification improves CTA behaviors and suggests greater efficacy than conventional medical management only. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to validate these preliminary findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]