A: Many dogs are disturbed by thunderstorms; some have full-blown thunderstorm phobia. Affected dogs relentlessly seek the attention of their owners or some safe place, and may puff and pant or pace to and fro, sometimes losing control of their bladder or bowels ....  Dogs who display no fear of storms as puppies may develop this fear later in life, and often, thunder-phobiacs exhibit other types of anxieties as well.  Gunfire sensitivity, sensitivity to the sound of fireworks, and separation anxiety are good examples.

Treatment usually involves careful reintroduction to the fear-inducing stimulus, also know as desensitization. (For example, using tape recordings of storm sounds such as the one available at: .) However, many times dogs have relapses.

Dogs are known to be sensitive to changes in barometric pressure and electrical frequencies and build up; this is why dogs are able to be trained to predict seizure activity in humans, etc. There exists a fairly new theory that frightened dogs are being affected by a build-up of static charge, explaining why some dogs retreat to bathrooms -- to discharge the build-up. They may be seeking out conductive surfaces such as sinks, pressing on the pipes in the bathroom. If the cause of thunderstorm phobia is that dogs are receiving small static shocks during storms, it may explain why programs focused on desensitizing dogs to the sound of thunder meet with little success. Measures to prevent status electrical charge build-up may have preventive value and might benefit as part of a desensitization program. Anti-anxiety medication such as buspirone (or other "doggie prozacs") may help. Check with your vet for more info.

A herbal or homeopathic approach may also be recommended or warranted. Check with a holistic vet or certified homeopath for detailed info:

Phosphorus HPUS 30C: Drop 3-5 pellets down back of dog's throat (without touching them yourself) every 15 minutes until you see improvement in the dog's behavior, then stop. Dosage may be repeated if necessary.

Aconitum Napellus 30C: Given in the same way Phosphorus is used.

For milder thunderstorm fears, the Bach Flower (Rescue Remedy or Nature's Rescue) is recommended. Place 4 drops on the dog's tongue or side of the mouth, or in the dog's water bowl. Dose may be repeated 4-5 times an hour.

Add Bach's Rescue Remedy to the dogs' water on days when the weather report calls for thunderstorms, and to use Rock Rose specifically (for terror) when the storms are occurring. The drops can be placed on the tongue, or mixed with purified water and misted in the dog's face.

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