Cats, dogs and thunderstorm phobia

So far this summer (as I write this a week before publication), we haven’t had any spectacular displays of thunder and lightning; however, in past years on many occasions, a storm cell was directly over my house, and the elapsed time between a bright flash of light and a sound so loud that dishes rattled in the cupboard was mere seconds. To many cats and dogs, thunder and lightning cause thunderstorm phobia, which gives rise to anxiety or fear — from mild to severe. Dogs, especially, may hide, tremble, whine, drool and pace. In severe cases, some dogs may chew furniture, tear drapes and break windows. Mild phobia or severe, what you have is a terrified, unhappy dog.