Does your aging pet run for cover when thunder rolls in? Storm anxiety in senior dogs and cats is a common problem because the condition often starts in younger animals and worsens over time. As pets get older, their ability to cope with stressful events may diminish, making storm season even more challenging. 

With preparation and compassion for your furry pal’s changing needs, you can help them weather summer storms in comfort. In this post, we discuss how storm anxiety affects senior pets and provide guidance on addressing this issue.

How storm season affects senior pets

Storm anxiety in senior dogs and cats can develop or worsen with age for several reasons. Cognitive changes (e.g., dementia), declining vision or hearing, and chronic pain can each contribute. For example, a pet who once tolerated storms but now suffers from dementia may get confused and scared by a noise that no longer seems familiar. Or, a pet who typically hides during storms may be unable to reach their hiding spot without pain. 

Noise phobias or noise aversions, including storm anxiety, tend to worsen with time. If your pet had mild storm anxiety that went unnoticed in their younger years, it could seem to appear out of nowhere in a pet’s senior years. The condition causes mental and emotional distress and poses a risk of physical harm if anxiety escalates to panic. However you slice it, storm anxiety is detrimental to a senior pet’s quality of life.

Identifying storm anxiety in senior dogs and cats

Storm-related stress often involves a noise aversion, but other factors can also trigger anxiety, such as static electricity, rain, wind, or changes in barometric pressure. Storm anxiety can look different in each senior dog or cat. Cats may hide, become vocal, or show misplaced aggression toward other pets or people in the home.

In dogs, watch for the following:

* Panting, pacing, trembling, or drooling

* Cowering or panicked attempts to run

* Whining, barking, or howling

* Clinging to familiar people

* Refusing to eat or take treats

* Destroying household items

* Having accidents in the house

Addressing storm anxiety in senior dogs and cats

Here are the steps you can take to help your pet cope with storm anxiety in older age. 

1. Talk to your vet

A primary or hospice care veterinarian can assess your pet’s overall health and determine whether medical or age-related changes are contributing to anxious behavior. Addressing pain may alleviate some anxiety symptoms, and many pain medications also work in the brain to reduce feelings of stress. Treating high blood pressure, cognitive decline, and hormonal imbalances can also be helpful. 

Even pets who do not have an underlying illness can benefit from veterinary-supervised therapies to address storm anxiety, which may include: 

* Short- or long-term anti-anxiety, anti-depressant, or sedative medications

* Compression shirts, eye covers, earmuffs, and other physical calming aids

* Pheromone sprays or diffusers

* Calming nutraceuticals or supplements

* Referral to a veterinary behaviorist or professional trainer

Always follow your veterinarian’s advice and avoid giving anything to your senior pet without first speaking with your furry pal’s veterinary team.

2. Create a storm-safe retreat

One of the most helpful things you can do for storm anxiety in senior dogs and cats is to provide a safe, quiet space for them to ride out the storm. If your pet chooses their own spot, do your best to make it comfortable and inviting. If your pet does not hide in a particular place, you can create a space for them. 

The space should be:

* Quiet and enclosed – Interior rooms, such as closets or bathrooms, work well. You can also use a crate or a covered bed if your pet prefers it, but keep the door open.

* Padded and cozy – Use soft bedding, favorite blankets, and familiar toys to create an inviting and comfortable space for pets with achy joints.

* Sound-insulated – White noise machines, a fan, or calming music can help muffle thunder and create a soothing environment.

* Accessible – Ensure your senior pet can easily get into and out of the safe space, especially if they have arthritis or mobility issues.

3. Try behavior modification

Behavior modification techniques, such as counterconditioning and desensitization, can help senior pets learn to replace anxiety with calm behavior. During a storm, offer your pet something special to help them make a positive association, such as treats or a game. Consistently provide the reward to help shift your pet’s feelings about thunderstorms.

During the storm off-season, you can try gradually exposing your pet to recorded storm sounds at increasing volumes. This technique may not work for all pets, as sounds are only one of many possible triggers for storm anxiety. Consult a trainer for help learning this technique.

4. Know your pet

Every pet is different, and their experience of anxiety during a storm is unique to them. Identifying what triggers their fear can help you develop effective strategies to support them. If you can predict your pet’s fear, you can more effectively prevent or diminish it. 

Look for patterns. Does your pet seem off hours before the storm, or only when the rain or wind picks up? Do visual (i.e., lightning) or auditory (i.e., thunder) stimuli have a greater impact? Does holding or sitting with your pet soothe them, or does crowding them make things worse?

Try to stay calm and maintain predictable behavior yourself. Pets are tuned into our emotions. While you should provide comfort to your pet and not ignore them, you should also try to keep your emotions level to reassure them that there is nothing to fear. 

5. Plan ahead

You may not always be home during a storm event to comfort your senior dog or cat. Planning ahead can help your pet feel safe, even when they’re home alone. If storms are predicted, try these strategies:

* Confine your pet loosely to select rooms to prevent injury or damage to the home while allowing free-choice access to their safe space. 

* Turn on calming music or white noise when you leave.

* Spray calming pheromones on your pet’s bedding or collar.

* Ask a friend or neighbor to check on your pet during severe weather.

* Administer medications in advance.

Compassion for anxious senior pets

Storm anxiety in senior dogs and cats is an involuntary response. It’s essential to remember that your pet doesn’t want to feel scared, and that behaviors like accidents in the house or destructive chewing are often beyond their control. Your pet needs compassionate care and treatment for their condition, never punishment.

Your primary veterinarian or a veterinarian from Lap of Love hospice and palliative care can help you create a plan to address your senior pet’s storm anxiety and provide support and resources to assist with other aging issues that may contribute to behavioral changes. 

Contact us or visit our website for information about the full range of services Lap of Love veterinarians can provide, including hospice visits, quality of life assessment, telehospice consultations, and in-home euthanasia. We help you and your beloved companion feel safe and supported—no matter the weather.