If you have a dog scared of thunder, it can be worrying to see how they react when a storm comes. They might shake, drool, pace, whine, or howl, or in severe cases, dig at walls or seriously injure themselves trying to escape. Other dogs will shut down into an almost catatonic state or try to hide.
Knowing why your dog is scared of thunder, what to do when your dog is scared of thunder, and how to calm a dog during a storm is something we can help you with. Keep reading, and let’s get some zen in your life when the thunder rolls in.
Why is my dog scared of thunder?
Thunder frightens dogs because it is loud and frightening, an unpredictable sound, static electricity, a darkening sky, and lightning frequently accompany it. All of these factors can cause your dog to become fearful.
Canine noise aversion
Thunder is loud and unpredictable, and some dogs have a phobia of loud noises. Noise phobias are widespread in dogs and are frequently seen alongside separation anxiety.
Static electricity
When there is a thunderstorm, there is a build-up of static electricity, which can affect your dog and make them feel nervous. Static affects the fur in long and double-coated breeds, making the fur feel strange and potentially causing a static shock when they touch things with its nose. If you’ve ever had static shocks, you’ll know how horrible they are, so it figures your dog would be scared of them too.
Dogs are sensitive to barometric pressure.
Dogs often sense storms are coming before we do, and this is due to a sudden drop in barometric pressure. Your dog will usually show a fearful reaction before the thunder breaks.
What can I do to help my dog when they’re scared of thunder?
Learning how to calm a dog during a storm is essential if you have a dog scared of thunder. You can do a few things to help your dog, which you choose will depend on the severity of their response.
- Check the weather reports and plan ahead. If you know a storm is on the way, you can prepare your house so it’s comfortable for your dog.
- Close your curtains, as this will help to muffle the thunder.
- Use a white noise machine, or put on classical music to help muffle the external noises.
- Comfort your dog if they seek you out, you can’t reinforce fear, and our dogs need us sometimes!
- Give your dog a lickimat or chew, so they have something to do. Licking and chewing feel-good boost chemicals in the brain and are enjoyable for dogs.
- Play with your dog if they’ll engage with you, have fun and act like the thunder is no biggie.
Are there products that will help my dog overcome his fear of thunder?
Various veterinary and non-veterinary products are available to help a dog scared of thunder. Here’s an overview of products that may help a dog scared of thunder:
Non-Veterinary Products
- Anxiety wraps and Thundershirts – these work a little like a weighted blanket in humans to apply light pressure to your dog and may help them relax.
- Essential Oils – lavender and chamomile are known to help calm dogs down.
- Pheromone Therapy – Sprays, Plug-Ins, and Collars can help lower anxiety in dogs around thunderstorms.
- White noise machines – these play different colors of sound, which are at particular frequencies to help muffle the thunder. We find the roaring low brown noise the best for dogs scared of thunder, but test out what is best for your dog.
- Calming treats – often contain herbs like Valerian to relax your dog.
Veterinary Products
- Short-term medications – Sileo is a relatively new product that can help to calm your dog down when they are afraid of thunderstorms and fireworks. Other short-term medications may include the more sedating benzodiazepines, which can help relax your dog but make them sleepy.
- Long-term anti-anxiety medications such as SSRIs, SNRIs, and others can help if you have a dog with generalized anxiety.
When deciding what products to help when your dog is scared of thunder, do consult your Veterinarian. We also recommend you work with a qualified behaviorist or dog trainer to use desensitization and counter-conditioning to change how your dog feels about thunder.
If your dog is afraid of thunder, there is help available. The most important thing is to make your dog feel safe and to help them relax. Discuss medication with your Veterinarian and seek expert advice to change your dog’s behavior and emotions when thunder strikes.
