Picking up a scent
Have you ever stepped out of your house, taken a hearty inhale and said, “Mmm, it certainly smells like rain?” Well, if you can sniff out that scent, your dog can too — their noses can detect concentrations of chemicals we couldn’t even imagine. When it comes to the smell of ozone in the air attributed to lightning, rest assured your pooch will smell it before you do!
Comforting them is okay but sometimes it provides only temporary relief. Your pet might need to see a vet for treatment.
Dogs may react by barking aggressively. It may seem brave but it’s really fear. It could begin with one storm then turn into a full-blown case of noise phobia.
“Management changes to make the animal feel safer in that given situation and behavior therapy,” says Dantas.
“Sometimes, what is a normal fear can grow into a phobia,” says Dr. Leticia Dantas of the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine.
ATLANTA — As metro-Atlanta prepares for the possibility of severe weather, pet owners will deal with the possibility that their animals will go crazy before the first crack of thunder.
The Signs Of Sensing a Storm
The first sign is usually when your pup seeks some type of shelter. If he’s outside and comes running back for no reason, hides under the bed, or goes into their crate or dog bed when they typically don’t. These are signs your dog is taking protective measures for an upcoming storm.
Some dogs may bark a lot to warn his pack that bad weather is coming. Others may like to cuddle up on their owners lap. Dogs that are scared of storms are more likely to seek the comfort and love of their human when they feel that bad weather is approaching. Dogs that are scared of storms are more likely to seek comfort and love of their owner when they sense a storm. Moreover, dogs will pace and move restlessly around a room. If this is the case, check the forecast.
Another sign is when they are outside and they stop to sniff the air around them, for no reason. This could be a sign that they can smell the thunderstorm coming.
Dogs use all of their senses when they feel a storm is coming. Dogs are actually able to sense barometric pressure changes. When this pressure in the air changes and charges in electricity change, it can alert the dog that changes in weather are happening. Sensing this change in pressure alerts your pup and causes them to try and seek shelter or a safe place to ride out the storm.
The science behind why dogs get frightened during storms
As thunderstorms approach, anxiety levels increase in certain dogs. For some, the problem is mild, but the frantic behavior of extremely storm-phobic dogs leaves no doubt about the terror theyre feeling. Perhaps dogs sense subtle changes in barometric pressure, odors in the air and changes in static electrical fields heralding a storm before humans do, theorizes animal behaviorist Nicholas Dodman. Symptoms of a panic attack may include pacing, trying to squeeze into unusual hiding places, panting, drooling, whining, shivering and losing bladder or bowel control.