Liz Smith of the Lawrence Humane Society, left, and Carmen Simon of the Kansas Animal Health Department transfer a dog rescued from a breeder in Garden City last month. Midge Grinstead, Humane Society director, says staff can tell when severe weather is approaching as the dogs are unnaturally quiet.

Many of us try to predict the weather. We look up at the clouds, listen to our meteorologists and maybe even check in with that grandparent with the bum leg. But sometimes, the weather forecast is closer than we think.

Robin Michael, a veterinarian with the Clinton Parkway Animal Hospital, 4340 Clinton Parkway, says that animals may exhibit certain behaviors well before the approach of inclement weather. She says animals’ sensitivity to changes in the weather probably was passed down through the generations from ancestors that had to seek shelter and safety when weather got bad.

“We are uncertain if this is due to an ability to sense subtle changes in wind speeds or barometric pressure, or if their keen sense of hearing allows them to hear thunder before we can,” Michael says.

Behavioral responses in dogs include acting nervous, hiding/seeking shelter, trembling, barking and staying within close proximity of their owner. Cats can also experience stress in response to weather changes, but their behavior may be subtle.

Midge Grinstead, executive director of the Lawrence Humane Society, 1805 E. 19th St., says there is a noticeable difference in the sheltered animals during storms.

“The dogs are very quiet, which is unusual,” Grinstead says. “Usually, there’s a lot of barking here.”

She recalls a past pet who was particularly responsive to weather.

“I had a German shepherd who would watch the clouds,” she says. “He could tell the difference between bigger storm clouds or those from a jet, and if it was real cloudy he would lay upstairs. If it was storm clouds, he would hide in the closet.”

Michael advises pet owners to get to know how their animals react to changes in weather.

“Dogs with severe storm anxiety can become destructive to their environment and even injure themselves,” Michael says.

In many cases, the solution is simple.

“Quite often, an owner’s presence is all that is needed to calm and comfort their pet during stormy weather,” Michael says. White noise, as from a fan or washing machine, may also help to dull the sounds of the storm.

And for those animals with severe anxiety, a desensitization or a counter-conditioning behavior modification program may be necessary. Desensitization may involve techniques such as playing a thunderstorm CD at low volume for your pet when the weather is not inclement.

Counterconditioning involves the use of treats, food or play during the storm to distract the pet and make the experience more positive.