Addressing Dogs’ Fear of Thunderstorms

Many dogs have this intense fear of sudden and loud noises, especially thunder. The moment they hear a thunderclap, their tail is tucked between their legs, they hunch, their ears droop, and they are scurrying looking for a safe place to hide from these strange and scary noises. Their hiding spot may not be enough to completely muffle out the loud sounds and the poor dogs end up spending the entire thunderstorm cowering in fear. As a response, owners try to make them feel safe by cuddling them and whispering words of comfort in the effort to take away their fears. However, studies have proven that whether or not you hold your terrified pooch, they will most likely remain upset during thunderstorms.

Study on Dogs’ Storm PhobiaThis fear of thunderstorms, also called “thunderstorm anxiety” or “storm phobia” is common among dogs. This is very stressful for the dog and also the owner who may feel helpless when faced with their dog’s panic. A study by Penn State University researchers was conducted to find out more about how thunder can affect dogs and what can be done to relieve them of their stress. Through dog saliva samples after a group of dogs were made to listen to a recording of a thunderstorm, veterinarians found out that the dogs’ cortisol level (a stress hormone) increased by 200% due to the thunder noises.

How to Lower Dogs’ Anxiety LevelsResearch has shown that although the act of comforting dogs during thunderstorms do not have a big effect on their stress levels, what does help is having other dogs in the household. In the study, dogs that had other doggy companions did not reach such a high level of stress and were quicker to calm down after a thunderstorm. Their cortisol levels were much steadier compared to dogs that lived alone with their owners.

But before you run out and buy another dog, seek advice first from your vet. After all, having many dogs in a household won’t entirely cure a dog of storm phobia. Your vet may be able to prescribe medications to help treat severe storm anxiety.

Remember that although holding a dog to try to comfort it may not be entirely effective, you can still help your dog out by creating a hiding place where they can feel safer during all the thunder. You can also play some music or turn the TV to loud to drown out the thunder.