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My husky is suddenly scared of thunder. What's causing his anxiety?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Siberian Husky | Male | neutered | 50 lbs

Our 1 year old husky seems to have been spooked or has very bad anxiety. It rained today and there was loud thunder. Ever since we got him he's never been scared of it but his sister is. We've tried taking him on walks or even to the backyard but he won't go. He paces from one room of the house to the next. Hardly ate his dinner but is still drinking water. We've tried melatonin treats bit it didn't work. What could be causing this?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Dr. Melanie, BVSc MS

Veterinarian

Published on April 21st, 2020

It is likely the thunder. Fireworks and loud noises can be really scary for dogs. One important thing to do to when your dog acts scared is not to reassure him. We think we are comforting him when we do that, but it's actually reinforcing the behavior and telling him it's ok to be scared. I recommend getting him a thundershirt to wear when there are fireworks or loud noises. These have been reported to help dogs with anxiety. At home, you can put him in a dark quiet room by himself to self-soothe. You can also turn on the TV or music to block out the sound. Finally, you can consider get a pheromone diffuser called DAP that helps dogs with anxiety. I hope this helps!

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