What Can We Do About Our Dog's Thunderstorm Phobia?

Question:
What can you do to help a dog that is terrified of thunderstorms. She shakes and pants very heavily and also paces. She is very afraid of tractor trailer trucks too.

A: A lot of dogs are afraid of thunderstorms.

Thunderstorms, with their bright lights and loud bangs, can be very scary to many dogs. Some dogs will cower in a corner or hide under a bed or behind a toilet. Some dogs will shake and drool. Other dogs will go crazy, tearing up walls and floors trying to hide from the storm. All these actions are a result of thunderstorm anxiety.

To help a dog with thunderstorm anxiety, put the dog in a room away from a window. Bathrooms are really good places. A crate, if the dog is crate-trained, is ideal. This gives the pet a safe place to hide. Make sure the lights are on in the room. A radio playing music is also helpful to drown out the nosies of the storm.

Some dogs who continue to drool and shake, despite being in a safe place, may need some medication or sedation. Talk to your veterinarian about options for your dog if he/she is having a severe reaction to a storm. There are many medications that can be used to curb storm phobia, ranging from melatonin (a vitamin supplement) to alprazolam (a sedative).

Your dog is most likely also scared of tractor trucks because of the loud noises they make.  Do they go by your house or is it just when he/she is in the car with you?

~Dr. Page Wages

Oberlin Animal Hospital