Thunderstorm phobia is distinct from firework fear and more complex to manage, involving multiple sensory stimuli including barometric pressure changes and static electricity.
Thunderstorm phobia causes intense panic in severely affected dogs — some experience terror so extreme that they injure themselves attempting escape. Unlike firework fear, which can be partially addressed through sound-proofing, thunderstorm phobia involves multiple sensory components that are difficult to block entirely: the sound of thunder, lightning flashes, electromagnetic changes, and barometric pressure drops. The welfare impact is significant because storms are uncontrollable and unpredictable events that severely affected dogs experience as existential threats. Effective management requires a combination of veterinary medication for acute events and a longer-term behavioural modification programme.