Dog Anxiety: Understanding the Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments
Dog anxiety can be debilitating for pups and heart-wrenching for their parents. Here’s how to identify it and help a dog that suffers from it.
Key takeaways:
Dogs experience anxiety due to separation, aging, and fear.
Signs of anxiety may include aggression, panting, and destructive behavior.
Anxiety may be prevented by proper socialization, obedience training, and other techniques.
Dog anxiety can be reduced with counter training and medications such as CBD oil.
It may be beneficial to find a dog trainer who specializes in anxiety to help the situation.
Dog anxiety is very real. Pups don’t have the complete range of emotions we do, but they do have a surprising variety — and anxiety is definitely one of them.
Also like with humans, anxiety that goes untreated can turn into an even bigger problem. Your dog’s could lead to disorders, destructive behavior, and more. This article will give you signs to look for in your dog, some strategies to prevent them from feeling anxious, and tips to help reduce anxiety.
What causes anxiety in dogs?
Anxiety in dogs is natural and expected, just like people. Yours may experience anxiety when separated from you and your family, for example. After all, dogs are social creatures and don’t like to be alone.
Your dog’s anxiety may also be tied to fear of the environment, including other dogs or loud noises, or your pup may feel anxious because of aging. Their cognitive abilities may begin to fail as they get older, and that may mean they are prone to diseases like cognitive dysfunction behavior. Your veterinarian may be the best source to help you determine what is causing your pup’s anxiety levels to spike.
Understanding the signs of dog anxiety
Dogs are very expressive animals. Though they cannot speak to us, they will use several other ways to show their feelings. Once you understand how your dog communicates, it’s very easy to tell when she is feeling anxious. Here are some things to watch for:
Early warning signs – Look for excessive panting, drooling, barking, pacing, and restlessness. Anxiety goes hand-in-hand with fight or flight syndrome. The release of adrenaline causes your dog to find ways to burn off the extra energy.
Peeing or pooping in the house – When dogs are feeling anxious, they may go potty in the house. This is not out of defiance, but simply because they are upset. Even housebroken dogs can do this, which often proves frustrating to their parents.
Destructive behavior – An anxious dog may rip apart or destroy your belongings to let you know she’s upset at being left alone. Dogs in this state often target items near the doors of the house. From their point of view, that’s the source of the trouble: It’s what you left through and it’s keeping you apart.
Aggressive behavior – A fearful dog may try to cover it up by becoming aggressive. She may also use aggression to tell other animals or people to stay out of her space.
Not all dogs display the same signs of anxiety. Pay close attention to how your pup behaves when they’re happy. If overall behaviors change, look for anything else that has changed. Are you away from home more often? Do you have more houseguests than usual? Shifts in your routine may be the trigger.
How can I prevent anxiety in my dog?
It is far easier to take steps to prevent dog anxiety than to treat it. A key component is to build your dog’s confidence. Confidence will mean your dog is better equipped to handle stressful situations without a downward spiral. Try these simple steps to increase their feelings of security:
Provide positive socializations – Dogs learn a lot of beneficial behaviors from other dogs. Many experts state that dogs without proper socialization before 10 months are more likely to have anxiety issues. Have your pooch interact with other well-adjusted dogs in a safe manner.
Give your dog a safe space – Dogs are den animals. When you provide a crate for your pup to sleep in, you are not being cruel. Never use the crate for punishment and your dog will come to see it as a place to go when the excitement is getting too intense.
Provide long-lasting edible goodies – A “puzzle food” is a treat or food placed in a dog-friendly container that is difficult to open. The puzzle, toy, or container allows your dog to remove the food, but they have to work for it. This keeps them occupied while you are away.
Change your routines – If you always comb your hair, go to the bathroom, and get a drink of water (in that order) when you leave, your dog may recognize the pattern. Start doing some of those activities during the day, particularly when you aren’t leaving, to deactivate the trigger.
Leave in a lowkey manner – Say goodbye to your dog, but don’t make a big deal of how much you’ll miss her. Dogs sense our energy and often take cues on how to feel or behave from those around them. If you’re upset about leaving, your dog’s anxiety may rise.
We can often prevent anxiety in dogs by helping them respond differently to their environment. Dogs are highly adaptable, so simple training and positive reinforcement can produce wonders. Become familiar with several methods to help your dog, too, as not every pup will respond in the same way.
How to help a dog with anxiety
There are many remedies you can give your pup for anxiety. Before you do, though, it’s always best to check with your veterinarian. They will give you an idea of any possible side effects and signs to look for.
CBD oil – Many dog parents claim CBD oil reduces their dogs’ anxiety levels. It’s important to remember that at the time of this writing, CBD oils are not yet regulated for use in pets.
Antidepressants – Clomipramine, fluoxetine, and benzodiazepine are sometimes prescribed.
Selegiline – This drug is sometimes prescribed for senior dogs who suffer from Cognitive Dysfunction Syndrome (CDS).
Natural products – Calming treats, vests, and anxiety jackets have been shown to help reduce anxiety in the short term. If your dog suffers during predictable events like thunderstorms, these may be worth considering.
Dog behavioral specialist – If you have done all you can, consider a professional trainer. A Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) may be able to help your pooch unlearn negative anxiety behaviors.
Wrapping Up
If you are wondering how you can be the best dog parent to your pup, the answer is simple: Observe their regular behaviors! When those behaviors change, look at everything surrounding your dog to see what has shifted. It might be a new routine or an environmental thing that’s got them uncomfortable.
The good news is there are things you can do to help your dog relieve anxiety and live their best lives. One of the easiest is to enroll your pup in a monthly wellness plan to ensure they are as happy and healthy as possible. Such plans have multiple benefits, too! Your pup will not only be clean, checked for common ailments, and have their coat, nails, and teeth cared for, but will also get to socialize with caring providers in the process.
Contact Scenthound for more information about routine dog care today.