Noise Phobia in Dogs - Signs, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment

Signs & Symptoms

About Noise PhobiaPage 4 of 13

Signs & Symptoms

What are the most common signs and symptoms of noise phobia in dogs?

  • The behavioral manifestations of noise phobias vary from the inhibited responses of whining, panting and salivating to the more reactive responses of running and escaping.
  • In some cases, those responding in a reactive manner may injure both themselves and their environment in their frantic attempt to escape. It is this population of dogs that are most likely to be referred for assistance.
  • However, any and all dogs displaying any type of distress response need to receive intervention. Management needs to start at the earliest reported signs as it may require less interventional strategies, leading to greater compliance and more successful management of the dog’s fear leading to a better quality of life.
  • Clinical signs
    • Hiding/withdrawing, trembling, panting, cowering, hypersalivation, inappropriate urination and/or defecation, vomiting, excessive vocalization, self-trauma, fleeing, hyper-vigilance, seeking human attention, destructiveness, abject panic.
  • Physical exam findings
    • No significant findings unless the dog has injured itself in some manner.

What are the main causes of noise phobia in dogs?

  • Sudden traumatic event associated with noise.
  • Long term repeated exposure to noise with repeated stress responses.
  • Social transmission, where one dog learns or copies another dog’s fear.
  • Sometimes the triggering event is never identified.