While many people enjoy stormy weather and the booms of thunder and flashes of lightning that thunderstorms bring, the same can’t always be said for our canine companions. If you have a dog that runs and hides or stays glued to your side the moment the weather starts to turn ugly, you may be dealing with a dog with a thunderstorm phobia.
There are a number of phobias – which are intense and irrational fears of something that poses little or no danger – that dogs can develop, with noise phobias being one of the most common. But thankfully, dog noise phobias are one element of dog behavior that many veterinarians are well-equipped to help address.
Research into the prevalence of noise-related anxiety and phobias in dogs has suggested that 15% to 30% of dogs suffer from some level of noise-related anxiety, with thunderstorm phobia being one of the most common specific triggers. In this blog, we’ll break down why dogs exhibit these irrational fears toward thunderstorms and talk about how your veterinarian can help your dog overcome their fear.
Why Are Dogs Scared of Thunder?
Dogs are often scared of thunder and other weather events due to a combination of factors, including environmental conditions, past experiences, and even their own genetics. Dogs have very strong senses, and thunderstorms can be incredibly overwhelming sensory events for them. Poor weather, like thunderstorms, can bring loud, low-frequency noise, bright flashes of lightning, and shifts in barometric pressure, which can potentially make any dog uncomfortable or unsure.
Dogs with thunderstorm phobia exhibit a profound, non-graded, extreme reaction to some aspect of the storm, manifesting as intense avoidance/escape behaviors, anxiety, and activation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. This occurs due to activation of the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system, which initiates a cascade of physiological events associated with epinephrine release – this is classically known as the “fight or flight” survival response.
When dogs are pushed into this "survival mode" by their fear response, they can exhibit signs of mania, such as barking, restlessness, and escape behaviors. Other dogs, however, can experience such extreme fear and anxiety that they reach a state of catatonia. Sadly, though this is the most extreme form of anxiety, it is often undetected by their family due to a lack of evidence and a happy dog upon returning home.
Common Triggers for Dog Storm Anxiety & Phobia
Any aspect of the storm or combination of attributes can trigger a phobic response in dogs, making this condition especially tricky for some owners to deal with. Common triggers for these responses include:
- Noise
- Wind
- Lightning
- Thunder
- Ozone levels
- Barometric pressure changes
- Alteration of illumination (darkening)
Initially, the trigger for the phobic response is often very specific to one aspect of the storm – typically the sound of thunder. With time, if appropriate intervention is not taken, dogs will begin to “generalize” their behavior and start to react to other aspects of the storm, such as wind, rain, or darkening skies.
However, while many dogs will exhibit general signs of discomfort or uneasiness during thunderstorms, others may react more severely, indicating a true phobia of thunderstorms.
Anxiety, Fear, and Phobia: What’s the Difference?
When dealing with a dog’s negative reactions to thunderstorms, it’s important for owners to be able to distinguish between anxiety, fear, and a true phobia.
Anxiety is defined as the apprehensive anticipation of future danger or misfortune accompanied by feelings of dysphoria and/or somatic symptoms of tension that often include vigilance and scanning, autonomic hyperactivity, and increased motor activity and tension.
Fear is defined as a feeling of apprehension associated with the presence or proximity of an object, individual, or social situation. Fear and anxiety are closely related, with the primary difference being one is with anticipation while the other is in the moment.
Fear is part of the suite of behaviors offered by a neurotypical individual and can be an adaptive response. Fear motivates one to move away from something dangerous – a valuable aspect of a dog’s survival instincts. Normal fears are manifested as graded responses, with the intensity of the response proportional to the proximity – or perception of proximity– of the stimulus, which in our case would be thunderstorms. In other words, the closer the fear-invoking triggers are, the greater the fear. Fears may develop more gradually, and within a bout of fearful behavior, there may be more variation in response than would be seen in a phobic event.
Phobias, on the other hand, are more extreme and abnormal reactions to a stressful stimulus. They appear to develop quickly, with little change in their presentation between bouts. While fear is typically an immediate response to a threat – like thunder – a phobia is different. Phobias are much more inflexible and intense, with dogs exhibiting more extreme behavior, such as cowering or panicking at the earliest sign of an approaching storm. Phobias are thought to develop when escape from the stimulus or trigger is impossible. For example, if a dog is unable to move because of crippling fear, it has no conscious cognitive ability to escape and may become phobic.
Dogs can generally become phobic of anything, making an owner’s understanding of dog behavior and fear responses a crucial aspect of preventing phobias from developing in dogs who live in normal homes.
Why Is My Dog So Scared of Thunder?
Every dog is different, with their own quirks and preferences, and the things our dogs are afraid of or anxious about can be just as unique as they are. In the clinic, some owners have asked why their dog specifically is afraid of thunderstorms, and the answer is a little more complicated than they’d like, with genetics, life experiences, and other mental or behavioral conditions impacting a dog’s predisposition to developing a thunderstorm phobia.
For example, research has shown that dogs of herding and hunting lineage may have a higher propensity for thunderstorm phobia than the average dog due to their genetics and breed sensitivities. A few breed groups that commonly exhibit signs of dog storm anxiety or phobia include:
- Herding breeds (Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, German Shepherds): These dogs are typically highly sensitive to environmental stimuli, which can make them more reactive to sudden or intense sounds like thunder.
- Hunting breeds (Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Beagles): Though bred to tolerate certain loud sounds (like gunshots), some lines may still show higher sensitivity to unpredictable noises like thunder.
- Working breeds (Dobermans, Boxers): These dogs often have high alertness and may develop phobias if not properly socialized or exposed to novel sounds early in life.
The prevalence of phobia in these breeds suggests that there may be "liability" genes that increase the risk for the development of phobias. For these herding and hunting breeds, this phobia may be endemic, with some lines having half or more of the dogs affected, and no generation is skipped. While there is no data on the very early development of thunderstorm phobia in dogs, data does show that the phobia is fully pronounced by four years of age. In our practice, most dogs with storm phobia are diagnosed by 2 years of age, with some dogs receiving a diagnosis as early as 7 months of age.
If one relative of an affected dog is known to have noise/ storm phobia, chances are that other dogs they are related to will be affected as well. Genome scans have revealed that no one gene, even with a breed, appears to be solely involved, making it more likely that multiple genes are involved.
Life experiences and timing of events in a dog’s life may also play a role in the development of thunderstorm phobias. Pups separated from the dam and littermates before the age of 8 weeks experience a greater incidence of excessive barking, fearfulness, and attention-seeking and destructive behavior compared to those that were adopted to homes after 8 weeks of age.
Dogs experiencing a fear-evoking event, such as a thunderstorm, during the “hypersensitive period” of development – the period of growth between 4 and 7 months of age – increases the chances of developing a phobia, especially if they were restrained or confined at the time of the event – like our example of a dog being left in a crate during a thunderstorm.
Signs You’re Dealing with Dog Storm Anxiety or Phobia
Common symptoms of dog thunderstorm phobia include:
- Hypervigilance
- Avoidance behaviors (e.g., hiding, escape attempts)
- Inappropriate urination and/or defecation
- Increased salivation
- Destructive behavior
- Panting
- Tachycardia (fast heart rate)
- Pacing or restlessness
- Freezing or immobility
- Trembling or shaking
- Vocalization (barking, whining, growling, howling)
- Inappetence (loss of appetite)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Mydriasis (dilated pupils)
- Aggression, particularly if the dog is handled or restrained during the episode (e.g., trying to remove them from a hiding spot)
Thunderstorm Phobia & Dog Storm Anxiety Won’t Go Away on Its Own
Unfortunately, dog storm anxiety and especially thunderstorm phobias are not something that a dog will simply “grow out of.” Without appropriate intervention, a phobia will not resolve and can even worsen – making things a lot more stressful for both you and your dog.
Contrary to what other non-vet-approved resources online may say, young dogs will not outgrow this behavior, and this type of extreme fear is not normal for herding or hunting dogs that “just need to be trained correctly.” Thunderstorm phobia in dogs is a real issue that needs to be constantly worked on and managed
Repeated exposure to a fear-invoking trigger will, at the very least, further reinforce the phobia and most likely result in progressively worsening behavior. Any form of correction or punishment applied to this condition will worsen the emotional health of the dog and should never be used with a fearful or anxious dog.
When to Take Your Dog to the Vet for Storm Anxiety
Due to the potential for progression or worsening of the phobia, I recommend a consultation with your veterinarian as soon as you notice symptoms of dog thunderstorm phobia. As is true with all anxiety-related conditions in dogs, the longer a problem behavior has occurred, the more difficult it is to change. So, just like every other aspect of health care for your pet, early intervention is crucial for helping a dog conquer their fear of storms and live without the sometimes debilitating effects of storm phobia.
A veterinarian experienced in behavioral health can provide several forms of support, including:
- Rule Out Underlying Medical Causes: Your veterinarian can help you determine if underlying medical issues, like pain or chronic conditions, are contributing to your dog’s anxiety-like behaviors. Ruling out physical causes of these behaviors is a crucial first step in determining if your dog has a true thunderstorm phobia.
- Behavioral Assessment: A comprehensive evaluation by your veterinarian can help determine the severity of your dog’s phobia and whether it’s part of a broader anxiety disorder, such as generalized anxiety or separation anxiety. Fully understanding the root cause of your dog’s behavior can help you and your veterinarian make an effective plan for treatment and management.
- Prescription Medications: For moderate to severe cases of dog thunderstorm phobia, your vet may recommend anti-anxiety medications or situational medications to reduce your dog’s stress and fear response during storms. These medications can significantly improve a dog’s comfort and responsiveness to behavioral treatment, but it’s important to only use dog medications approved and prescribed by your veterinarian.
- Referral to a Veterinary Behaviorist: In complex or treatment-resistant cases, your veterinarian may refer you to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist for specialized care and treatment planning.
- Support for Behavior Modification: Your vet may work with or recommend a certified professional dog trainer who uses science-based, force-free techniques to implement a behavior modification plan. This might include counterconditioning, desensitization, and environmental management to eliminate dog storm anxiety symptoms or, at the very least, make them more manageable for your dog.
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This information was first seen on Advanced Animal Care of Mt. Pleasant.