Hi
This is a very typical progression for a dog who is developing a severe phobia to loud and scary noises. It often starts in young dogs with a one off severe scare such during as the thunderstorm you mention. It seems like once a dog is sensitised by a bad experience, the anxiety builds quickly to a high pitch the next time there's another storm or, the same level of anxiety can develop more widely as in your dog's case, when any type of loud noises occur. In severe anxiety a dog becomes very distressed and is unlikely to just settle down and get over the problem. You will need the advice of a behaviourist to work with you and her to get her desensitised and calmer around loud noises. In the UK there are noise desensitising audio programmes available that you can buy and use to gradually help your dog to learn to cope by playing low level noises simulating thunder, then gradually increasing the play volume over a period of time. You must never progress the noise level up to a point where the dog gets anxious at any stage whilst she is re-learning to cope. It works but be patient as it can take time to settle a dog with noise phobia down to being normal again. Good luck with her.
Cathy Wickenden BVet Med MRCVS
Barton Lodge Veterinary Centre
1 Midland Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 5BH
Tel: 01442 216048 24 hours
[
www.bartonlodgevets.co.uk]