Diagnosis of storm phobia is straightforward; even you as the owner can recognize it. If your dog begins to act abnormally during a storm and it happens during every storm and only then, your dog has a storm phobia. It may be the noise your dog is scared of, but it may not be. A storm has a lot of factors that your dog may be reacting to. It may be the noise of the thunder, or the sensation of the vibration from the thunder. It may be the light flashing from the lightning or it may be the change in pressure they are sensitive to, but we as humans cannot feel as much. If it is the noise your dog is sensitive to, you may notice him having the same type of fear reaction when there are fireworks or a gun shot. However, many notice their dog having a different response to fireworks than he does to a gun or thunder.
If your dog does not have a severe response to the storm and its elements, your dog may not have a phobia but is labeled as ‘”reactive”. In order to determine what your dog is, you have to rule out other possible causes to the issue. As the dog’s phobia is developing, many owners mistake their dog’s shaking or nervousness as a sign of illness or pain. Poor hearing and vision are also common ailments they believe their dog to be suffering from. Checking your dog’s hearing and vision is something your veterinarian can do upon general examination. Pain can be ruled out with manipulation of the bones and ligaments. If your veterinarian wants further verification, she may suggest a radiograph of the specific area in question. The image will be able to rule out or confirm any type of break, damage to, or even arthritis in the area.
You can keep a journal of your dog’s symptoms in an effort to figure out his exact trigger. Any time your dog is displaying a symptom like he does during a storm, write it down. The more details you record, the better your chances of unearthing the exact cause. You should document what time of day it is, the weather, if there is anything going on outside around your house or even inside your house. By following this process, you may discover what exact element of the storm your dog is afraid of or that he may not be afraid of it at all.
If your veterinarian is worried about your dog suffering from any other ailment or mental issue, she will recommend further diagnostics in accordance with your dog’s needs.