Is your dog getting Zapped?

Is your dog getting zapped like ours? Our little bichon x has had a problem for quite a while now. We knew he had skin problems as this breed of dog often has and we put it down to itchy skin. But we were wrong! He is prone to skin problem but that’s not the whole story.

Grooming Jazz

It occured to me a week or so ago, when I was grooming Jazz, that I was geting small electric shocks from him. Going by his reaction, he was also experiencing these shocks and we wasn’t a happy chappy! This is probably why he fidgets when being groomed.

Jazz’s symptoms

Looking back, Jazz had a regular tendency to jump suddenly and run around with his tail down and his back hunched. He would then lay down with his little ears back, looking behind. Sometimes he would turn and frantically bite at the root of his tail, or he would run off into the bedroom where his bed is. He would often stay there really still for quite some time, awake but not moving but looking around nervously, showing the whites of his eyes. This is a typical fearful look.

Moving slowly

I also noticed that if Jazz wanted to turn around in his bed, he would do it very, very slowly. I thought he must have a bad back or sore leg. What I have realised is that he is turning very slowly because of his fear of being zapped. Turning around and moving about when static is around, will likely induce a release of static charge. He had learnt that moving really slowly reduces the static effect. We have now changed his bed to one made of natural materials.

Looks funny but…

This little Maltese may look funny and I know many owners purposely put static into their dog’s coat for a laugh. But have they ever thought it may be uncomfortable for their dog? He does not look too happy. His face shows an element of anxiety.

We don’t really know how static feels to our dogs. Some are probably more sensitive than others. Best be on the safe side and try and keep static to a minimum. Read the paragraph below about how thunderstorms affect our dogs.*

Then it came to me

This behaviour seemed to happen more in the winter so we thought it probably wasn’t fleas because they aren’t around so much in the colder months. Then I began to think. I often get electric shocks off the vacuum cleaner. This is a Dyson cordless cleaner with a plastic handle. I turned the light off once when I was vacuuming in the evening when it was dark. There it was, little sparks coming from the handle to my palm. It wasn’t that painful but to a little dog it could be very disconcerting.

So what is static?

A static electrical charge can increase through friction ie. contact between two insulating materials. Some materials hold static charge better than others. Insulating materials such as synthetics like plastic are a good example. They will discharge their static build up as soon as contact is made with a conductor. Such conductors could be metal doorknobs, the car handle is a prime example. For me, a shopping trolley often gives me a zap.

A winter problem

Static electricity can be a problem all year round but it tends to get worse under dry conditions and in the winter months. Our warm homes often produce a dry environment, so static electricity will be more problematic in the winter. If both you and your dog retain static electricity, when you touch, that static will be discharged and both of you will feel it. Although there is no danger with static electricity, it can be disconcerting for you and your dog.

Static jumps the gap

Air is an electrical insulator and dry air will help a buildup of static. Water vapor in the air, however, conducts electricity nicely, allowing any charge that’s built up on our bodies to dissipate into the air. Colder air holds less water vapour so there is nowhere for a static charge to go. When a conductor is nearby, the static can actually jump the gap between the insulator and the conductor.

*Thunderstorms and dogs…

Holistic pet therapist and author, Sally Morgan explains:

Static electricity. During a thunderstorm, static electricity in the clouds builds up, eventually bursting into lightning. Dogs can sense this static electricity, even from inside our homes, and often even before the storm reaches our own neighborhood, says Lazhar Ichir, Founder of Breeding Business, an educational platform for ethical dog breeders. “Specialists now understand that static electricity is felt by dogs through their fur, generating an unpleasant tingling sensation,” he says. “For this reason, pets feel agitated and seek a spot they hope might isolate them from the static charges.”

The problem with synthetics

So why is this happening in our home? Well, we actually have a fitted carpet which is made of synthetic fibres. These synthetic carpets can harbour static electricity and give you a zap, especially if you’re wearing synthetic fibre socks, slippers or shoes. I walk about in socks at home, so I bought socks made from bamboo, a natural material. With those socks on, I don’t get zapped at all.

Nylon brush and comb

So what about poor Jazz? The first thing I did was change his comb and brush. I noticed that when using a nylon brush and comb, his hair would produce static. His tail would stand on end, the same as if you rubbed a balloon on your hair to make it statically charged.

Changed to wooden brush

I bought a wooden brush with natural bristles and a stainless steel comb. That made a difference straight away but I wanted to make sure it didn’t happen again.

Short hair cut

Jazz’s hair is like a poodle, very soft, very fine, very dense. This is why I was getting zapped, as was he. His hair was quite long and easily held a static charge. It just didn’t occur to me that he was feeling this static. It must have been very upsetting for him. So, I gave him a shorter hair cut. What a difference!

Stop the zapping with these tips

1. If the problem is severe, introduce a humidifier into the home when the central heating is on in the winter.  This will increase moisture content and reduce the likelihood of static shocks.
2. Artificial materials will induce static electricity. If you put clothes on your dog ie. a coat or jumper for warmth, made sure they are of natural fibres such as cotton.
3. Some dog blankets will be made of synthetic fibres as are some dog beds.  Choose a bed or blankets that are made from natural materials.
4. Make sure you yourself are not producing static. Try cotton or other natural materials, especially for your socks. Bamboo fibres make really soft socks and comfortable clothes.
5. Make sure your hands are not dry by regularly using a moisturiser on them, especially when dealing with your dog.
6. Buy a wooden brush with natural bristles for your dog’s coat. Use a stainless steel comb. Try to avoid nylon or plastic brushes and combs.
7. You can buy anti-static sprays. Or you could try a fine spray of water over your dog’s coat a few times throughout the day.
8. As for thunderstorms, it has been suggested relaxing music, putting your dog in the bath, (that’s if he likes baths), spraying him with a fine mist of water, putting him in a dark room. You could buy him an igloo bed to hide in and they’re warm. Larger ones are on the market now.

Have you any tips?

If you have any experiences with your dog and static electricity or tips on how to eliminate it, please share them with other readers by leaving a comment. Thanks for reading!