Anxiety is tough on dogs, especially when owners don’t know the signs of stress in dogs. A dog will give off clues when it is feeling anxious so learning not only what the signs are but what your dog’s signs are can help you have a healthier, happier pup.
Anxiety in dogs is a lot like anxiety in people. One of the most difficult ways that anxiety affects a dog is through behavior. Your anxious dog may become aggressive, bark a lot, growl, or even bite. Or it may be the complete opposite, hiding and running away when it feels threatened. You may notice that your dog has potty accidents in the house, chews things, and digs in the yard.
Now, when you see these behaviors, if you don’t know they indicate stress, you might fuss at your dog. That’s normal. BUT, if the dog is doing these things because it is already stressed, getting in trouble and getting fussed at only ADD to the stress. This can cause the behavior to get worse instead of better!
Long term stress can cause many health problems for dogs. Just like with humans, anxiety puts pressure on the organs such as the heart. It can also leave the dog feeling isolated and alone because its owner is upset so it doesn’t have the support it needs to work through the anxiety.
Any dog can become anxious. While it is true that some breeds are a little more prone to anxiety than others, a traumatic event, lack of socialization, illness, pain, overheating, and of course separation from its owner can all be sources of anxiety.
Shivering, door dashing, not eating, more frequent urination, whining, escaping the yard, and restlessness are all common signs of anxiety in dogs that you are probably already familiar with. However, there are some signs that are not as apparent:
Watch your dog and learn the clues it gives when it is stressed. This can help you identify the causes of your dog’s anxiety and let you take steps to help your dog feel better.
There was a meme going around social media a couple of years ago that featured a small dog on a couch. A large portion of the couch was obviously wet. The caption read, “We have a little licking problem.”
People thought it was funny because they didn’t know the signs of dog anxiety. While the excessive licking is a sure sign, you could also see the whites of the dog’s eyes (whale eye), its back was hunched, and its tail was tucked. It was not a funny meme, it was sad. The dog was very, very stressed.
Another scenario. You are walking your rescue dog. You don’t know much about where it came from, but it seems to have some training. However, a firetruck passes you and your dog drops to the ground. It won’t get up, won’t walk, won’t do anything. It might be shivering or have its head down or it might be whining. The dog is anxious.
Or maybe you are at home with your dog – who is a barker. It barks at everything. One minute it will be laying beside you and the next minutes it is packing back and forth, barking. It may pant a little or come back and lick you, the furniture, a toy, anything. That is a very anxious animal.
Even though your dog can’t talk and tell you what is wrong, you can still see the clues it gives you. When you realize that your dog suffers from anxiety, there are some things you can do.
In some cases, your veterinarian may give your dog some medication to help with the anxiety, especially if it seems to dominate your dog’s life. Staying in a constant state of anxiety isn’t good for anyone, canine or human.
At Central Pet we are sensitive to the needs of our anxious guests and try to help ease their stress with quiet, low sensory spaces where they can take a break when necessary. Contact us today to learn more about our doggy daycare, boarding, grooming, and training classes. We treat your pet like family!