Tracey L. Deiss, DVM

When you think about noise aversion, do the sounds of fireworks and thunder come to mind? It did for me until I lived with and loved not one, not two, but three dogs simultaneously triggered by the crack bam booms of the obvious noise monsters as well as the chirp chirp vrooms of the nonobvious ones such as smoke detectors and vacuum cleaners.

Chirp chirp. The smoke alarm needs a new battery. From 0 to 90 in seconds, what began as an ear quirked slightly in response to the unexpected noise monster, suddenly transforms into panting, shivering, wide-eyed panic. And bonus: While each little fur angel has their individual triggers, transference passes the panic around like a contagious virus, bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase “mass hysteria.”

Noise sensitivity, also known as noise aversion, phobia, or anxiety affects over 1/3 of dogs in the United States.¹ Clinical signs include panting, pacing, hiding, trying to escape, self-trauma, and property destruction. Noise aversion is a complex condition with causes not completely understood and is thought to have genetic and environmental components. ^2-4

Early diagnosis and treatment seem to play an important role not only in slowing progression but also in preventing sensitization to other noises, escalation of episode intensity and duration, and development of co-anxieties like separation anxiety. In addition to thinking about our noise aversion patients’ safety and welfare, we must pause to consider the impact on the human-animal bond and harmony between pets in the house since noise phobias can have an element of social transmission, the transferring of noise aversion from one pet to another with no previous reported history.⁵

As with most conditions in veterinary medicine, noise aversion warrants a multimodal approach to treatment. This includes identifying environmental components, implementing behavior modification, and leveraging pharmaceuticals. And, just as important, we must support the pet owner by level setting expectations, providing education, and establishing a vet-client collaborative partnership with consistent touch points and reassessments.

Since noise aversion is a manageable rather than a curable condition, remembering to watch for behavior conditions arising over the lifespan of the pet is key, especially if a relatively well-managed and predictable noise-averse patient experiences a change in presentation or if the dog presents with adult-onset problematic social behaviors with other household dogs.

Anxieties, phobias, and fears are common and often frustrating behavioral complaints of dog owners. Recognizing and treating upon first presentation is important to optimizing management success, as failure to do so can result in progression of clinical sign severity and result in human-animal bond disruption, relinquishment, or, in severe cases, discussion of euthanasia.²

What if you could be the veterinary hero bringing relief to your canine patients and their people by taming the obvious and not-so-obvious noise monsters? This downloadable noise aversion checklist can be a helpful conversation starter in diagnosing the condition thus quieting the chirp and vanquishing the vroom.

To learn more about Sileo^® (dexmedetomidine oromucosal gel), the first FDA approved treatment for canine noise aversion, visit sileodvmus.com.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION: Do not use SILEO in dogs with severe cardiovascular disease, respiratory, liver or kidney diseases, or in conditions of shock, severe debilitation, or stress due to extreme heat, cold or fatigue or in dogs hypersensitive to dexmedetomidine or to any of the excipients. SILEO should not be administered in the presence of preexisting hypotension, hypoxia, or bradycardia. Do not use in dogs sedated from previous dosing. SILEO has not been evaluated in dogs younger than 16 weeks of age or in dogs with dental or gingival disease that could have an effect on the absorption of SILEO.  SILEO has not been evaluated for use in breeding, pregnant, or lactating dogs or for aversion behaviors to thunderstorms. Transient pale mucous membranes at the site of application may occur with SILEO use.  Other uncommon adverse reactions included emesis, drowsiness or sedation. Handlers should avoid direct exposure of SILEO to their skin, eyes or mouth.  Failure to lock the ring-stop on the syringe before dosing SILEO could potentially lead to an accidental overdose. Always review INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE before dispensing and dosing.  See full Prescribing Information

Resources

1. The Harris Poll: Custom Motion Sickness and Noise Aversion Omnibus Pet Owner Quantitative Research Report, December 2018
2. Sherman BL, Mills Ds. Canine anxiety and phobias: An update on separation anxiety and Noise Aversions. Vet Clin Nor Amer: Small Anim Pract, 2008; 38: 1081-1106.
3. Murphree O, Dykman R, Peters J. Genetically-determined abnormal behavior in dogs: Results of behavioural tests. Conditional Reflex, 1967; 2: 199-205.
4. Overall KL. Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for dogs and cats. Elsevier Mosby, St Louis, MO. 2013; 256-261.
5. Iimura, K., The nature of noise fear in domestic dogs. 2006 University of Lincoln.

This article was reviewed/edited by board-certified veterinary behaviorist Dr. Kenneth Martin and/or veterinary technician specialist in behavior Debbie Martin, LVT.