Thunderstorm phobia is one of the most common and severe anxiety disorders in dogs, causing acute suffering and requiring multi-modal management approaches.
Storm phobia causes acute panic responses including trembling, panting, salivation, destructive behaviour and attempts to escape that cause both psychological and physical harm. Dogs in acute storm panic experience genuine terror equivalent to severe human phobia. The progressive nature of untreated phobia means each storm exposure worsens future responses. Effective management combines environmental measures (safe spaces, white noise, darkened rooms), pressure therapy and in severe cases, veterinary-prescribed medication. Medication prevents the chronic sensitisation that occurs when dogs experience unmanaged acute fear repeatedly.