>->  >> A stranger thing yet is there's no reaction to thunder
 >->  >> when we are
 >->  >> riding in a car through a thunderstorm. hmmm! What do
 >->  >> you think?

 >->  >  BM> Perhaps the dog keeps tense while the car is in
motion, to guard
 >->  >  BM> against lurching when the car changes direction or
speed, thereby
 >->  >  BM> proctecting his back somewhat.  Maybe in the
house, he's relaxed,
 > and
 >->  >  BM> a sudden clap of thunder makes him start, and
causes his back to h
 > urt.


 >->  >  Hmmm I don't think so. :) On our way bck to TX
 >->  > through Mississippi we
 >->  > went through a very nasty Tboomie, at a stead speed on
 >->  > rote 10 and he
 >->  > was very calm and relaxed. When we do go into a town
 >->  > though and are
 >->  > stopping a lot he takes notice but seems very calm.

 >->  > I think it might be the wind (white nose?) tuns out
 >->  > the thunder sound
 >->  > somehow. That could be it.

 >-> Maybe he just likes to ride in the car so much, and smell everything if th
 > e
 >-> window's open, that it takes his mind off the thunder.

 > That's precisely how my Vet diagnosed my dog Spanky.

 > One morning he was in so much pain he could not stand.
 > To get him outside I cut the sides down on some
 > soft side luggage and hauled him outside with the
 > handy
 > handles.

 > Upon seeing his good friend and my neighbor he stood
 > right
 > up and ran over to her.
 > Later the same day he caught the ride to the Vet
 > without a problem.

 > Advised of this the vet said it was his adrenal gland
 > kicked in
 > when excited and he was prescribed a steroid which I
 > administer on a
 > very carefully determined minimal as required
 > schedule.

That's interesting.  One of my options for arthritis pain was a steroid
shot in each hip every six months.  I declined, but it appears to be worth
thinking about, for future reference.

 > He's been happy these last two years.

 > Were it not for this drug I'd have had to have him
 > put to sleep.

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