Thunderstorm phobia affects many dogs and causes significant welfare suffering that can be substantially reduced through desensitisation and anxiolytic approaches.
Dogs with thunderstorm phobia experience genuine terror during storms, causing acute suffering that can last hours with each event. The phobia often worsens over time without intervention. During events, dogs may injure themselves attempting to escape, escape outdoor enclosures, or become dangerous from fear-based aggression. Welfare-focused management combines preventive medication for predicted storms, desensitisation during dry periods, and environmental management including safe den spaces. The combination of pharmacological and behavioural approaches provides significantly better welfare outcomes than either alone.