Not only do people often feel anxious, but animals can also feel it. Many of the dogs we take care of have anxiety, which is usually caused by their owners leaving them and the environment of the shelter in general.
Anxiety can be treated, just like other bad habits like biting, barking, and chewing on everything in sight. Anxiety can be cured completely, but sometimes it can only be managed; this is only noticeable in certain situations.
If your dog has anxiety, you should read this post. We’ll talk about a few tried-and-true ways to help your dog feel better and live a happy, healthy life.
So let’s look at what can make your dog anxious and what are the best ways to calm him down.
Anxiety in Dogs
Anxiety can show up in many different ways, such as whining, barking, shivering, and whimpering. You may also find that when your dog is worried, he does bad things or acts mean. If the anxiety isn’t taken care of, they may lose their appetite and become completely shut down over time.
Most dogs get anxious when they feel abandoned, afraid of being home alone, hear loud noises, travel, or meet new people, children, or other pets. We’ve also seen dogs who have been abused or neglected get anxious.
The best way to help your dog is to figure out what’s wrong. Most of the time, anxiety is clear and easy to spot. Once you know what’s going on, you can figure out how to treat it.
What Dog Owners Need to Know
Dogs get worried, just like people do. Even though it’s uncomfortable, it’s a normal and healthy feeling. Anxiety can happen to any kind of dog, but it may affect each dog differently. Anxiety is something that all dogs feel sometimes, but if it gets out of hand, it can lead to a disorder called anxiety disorder. If you don’t take care of a dog’s anxiety, it can lead to behavior problems and other issues.
How can you tell if your dog is stressed? What can you do to help a scared dog? We’re here to tell you everything you need to know about common causes, symptoms, and treatments for dog anxiety. We’ll also talk about the best ways to avoid anxiety. So, if your dog ever gets anxious, you’ll know everything you need to know as an owner to help.
Causes of Dog Anxiety
The Merck Veterinary Manual says that many things can make a dog anxious. Some common things that make dogs anxious are:
- Fear
- Separation
- Aging
Anxiety related to fear can be caused by loud noises, strange people or animals, visual stimuli like hats or umbrellas, new or strange environments, specific situations like going to the vet or riding in a car, or surfaces like grass or wood floors. Even though some dogs may only react briefly to these things, they may have a bigger effect on anxious dogs.
14 percent of dogs are thought to have separation anxiety. Dogs who have separation anxiety can’t find comfort when they are alone or away from their family. This anxiety usually comes out in bad ways, like urinating and pooping in the house, destroying furniture and belongings, and barking.
Older dogs can get anxious because of their age, and this can be linked to cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). Memory, learning, perception, and awareness start to get worse in dogs with CDS, just like they do in people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. This makes sense to cause confusion and worry in older dogs.
Symptoms of Dog Anxiety
So how do you know if your dog is anxious? There are a few important signs to keep an eye out for:
- Aggression
- Urinating or defecating in the house
- Drooling
- Panting
- Destructive behavior
- Depression
- Excessive barking
- Pacing
- Restlessness
- Repetitive or compulsive behaviors
Some of these symptoms may be caused by occasional things that make you anxious, but any of them can get worse if they happen more than once. Even so, aggression is by far the most dangerous sign of dog anxiety. Depending on the situation, this kind of aggression can be aimed directly or indirectly.
When a dog acts mean toward people or other animals, this is called direct aggression. Indirect aggression can be just as dangerous, and it usually happens when a person gets between a dog and the thing that makes it angry, like another dog. Even if a dog can’t hurt anyone, aggressive actions like growling or barking can lead to situations that are bad for both humans and dogs.
Urinating and defecating in the house is a common symptoms of separation anxiety. Anxious dogs often work themselves up to the point that they pee or poop in the house, even if they are housebroken. This is frustrating for owners and can cause property damage, not to mention the unpleasantness of the cleanup.
Separation anxiety is also associated with destructive behavior. The damage is frequently concentrated near access and exit points, such as doorways and windows, but anxious dogs are also at risk of injuring themselves. Attempts to escape from dog crates, windows, and even doors can result in painful injuries and costly veterinarian care.
Ways to Calm Your Anxious Dog
1. Exercise Your Dog
If your dog suffers from separation anxiety, the apparent solution is to never leave them alone. That is not a reality for most pet owners, so using exercise as both a bonding experience and a way to tire out your pet is frequently a simple solution!
Because anxiousness can generate an excess of energy, taking your dog for a long walk or a game of ball before you leave can be beneficial. It is also beneficial to make lots of physical contact with them and communicate with them during this period. Exercise, like its human counterparts, can help relieve stress by creating helpful endorphins.
2. Physical Contact
Nothing soothes a nervous dog more than his or her owner’s touch. Identify the signals of nervousness in your dog and address them as soon as possible by picking them up, cuddling on the couch, or giving them a long petting session.
3. Massage
A massage, as you are probably aware, can soothe and calm even the most agitated human – but did you know it also works wonders on dogs?! Anxiety frequently causes muscle tension, and massage treatment is one method of relieving stress. Begin at the neck and work your way down with long strokes. Maintain one hand on the dog while the other works on the massage. Over time, you may be able to pinpoint the source of your dog’s stress and focus solely on that area.
4. Music Therapy
Music therapy has been shown to benefit both humans and our canine and feline companions. While you’re at home, in the car, or away from your pet, the power of music can be comforting and relaxing. Music can help reduce noise sensitivity by shutting out annoying or frightening stimuli that upset some dogs and cause anxiety.
According to studies, many dogs love classical music. Harp music, which is frequently utilized in hospice settings, can be a natural sedative.
5. Time-Out
While anxiousness isn’t a terrible habit in and of itself, giving your dog some time out when they’re acting out can help. Isolating your pet in a safe and peaceful environment can help to soothe their ruffled nerves. Perhaps there is some extremely quiet music playing, low lighting, and/or aromatherapy available.
6. Calming Coats/T-Shirts
Calming coats and t-shirts put gentle, steady pressure on a dog’s torso like a swaddling cloth do for a baby. It is recommended for dogs suffering from anxiety caused by travel, separation, noise, or strangers.
