Thunderstorm phobia is one of the most common and distressing anxiety disorders in companion dogs, causing panic responses that can result in self-injury and chronic psychological harm.
Dogs with thunderstorm phobia experience genuine panic during storms — elevated heart rate, muscle trembling, panting, and desperate escape attempts that can cause serious injury. Without treatment, the condition often worsens over time as each storm reinforces fear associations. Behavior modification starting well before storm season, combined with appropriate medication for severe cases and management tools during storms, can substantially reduce the welfare burden of this common anxiety disorder.