Peace for Your Anxious Dog

Anxiety is a common trait seen in humans; likewise, our beloved pets can suffer from this condition. God put us in charge of animals, and I believe we hold a responsibility to help them when they are overcome by anxiety. As a pet owner, it is important to build a relationship with your companion so that you can identify common symptoms or behaviors seen with anxiety, such as:

• Barking or howling when left alone

• Restlessness, panting, drooling, shivering, cowering, depression, or pacing

• Running away, digging excessively, constantly challenging the fence in the yard, or showing aggression toward people or other animals

• Destructive behavior, chewing on or destroying furniture and items that do not belong to them

• Urinating or defecating in the house

• Self-harm, or repetitive and compulsive behaviors such as excessive licking or chewing on fur or paws

Anxiety can have a variety of causes, and it is helpful to try to identify the underlying origin. The three most common causes of anxiety in dogs are:

• Fear

• Separation

• Aging or cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS)

Fear-related anxiety can be caused by loud noises such as fireworks, strange people or animals, visual stimuli (such as hats or umbrellas, or new and strange environments), specific situations (such as the vet’s office or car rides), or surfaces such as grass or wood. When dogs are put into fearful situations, behaviors such as aggression, cowering, urinating, or defecating can manifest and trigger an anxious response.

Separation anxiety happens when a dog is unable to find comfort after being left alone or separated from their family members. The separation often triggers anxious behaviors such as barking, howling, restlessness, and destructiveness.

Age-related anxiety affects older dogs and can be associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). In dogs with CDS, memory, learning, perception, and awareness start to decline like the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. This understandably leads to confusion and anxiety in senior dogs.

It is best to prevent anxiety from becoming a chronic condition, if possible. A few ways to prevent anxiety are to use positive comforting body language and slow hand movements; a quiet, calm voice; and a lowered, nonthreatening body posture. Good socialization and obedience classes at the puppy stage can go a long way and help develop trust and control while providing exposure to various experiences. Regular exercise in conjunction with a good nutritional diet provides physical and mental health and stability. Lastly, avoiding situations that are known to trigger anxiety symptoms in your dog will help prevent stress and anxiety before they occur.

Once you identify the cause and symptoms of anxiety in your dog, the next step to help your canine friend cope with their circumstance is to find ways to help them to relax and prevent the situation from occurring again. It is important to remember to be patient with your pet. It might take several attempts before you find which approach—or combination of approaches—suits your dog’s needs.

Here are seven approaches to help calm your anxious dog:

1. Exercise: Separation anxiety can cause an excess of energy. Taking your dog on a long walk/jog or to the dog park and playing catch can help them burn off extra steam. Exercise is beneficial for both humans and our pets. It can help relieve stress, maintain a healthy weight, provide important bonding time, and produce beneficial endorphins.

2. Physical contact: Love and attention from a trusted human can help alleviate stress in an anxious dog. Dog massages, snuggles, and a good brushing can help distract a dog from its triggers and make it easier for them to feel safe and at ease.

3. Toys: Offering mentally stimulating toys can provide a distraction for pets experiencing anxiety, hyperactivity, and boredom. Chew toys can offer a variety of sensory textures or sounds, and puzzle toys that release treats when solved can provide hours of diversion. These toys can distract your pet from their immediate worries and provide positive reinforcement for good behavior during a stressful time, as well as reframe their behavior in the long term.

4. Music: Music can be calming and relaxing and can alleviate noise sensitivity by blocking out loud or scary noises that trigger anxiety. Research has shown that many dogs prefer classical music. Music should be introduced during fun times together, and this will help make it more reliable as a soothing mechanism during stressful events.

5. Calming coats: Apply mild, constant pressure to a dog’s torso, surrounding a dog much like a swaddling a baby. This “hug” can help with anxiety during travel, separation, loud noise, storms, or aversion to strangers.

6. Create a safe space: A comfortable dog bed or crate can offer comfort and a sense of safety for dogs experiencing anxiety. Isolating your dog in a safe and quiet space can calm frayed nerves. A crate with calm music, low lights, and aromatherapy (pheromones) can provide a sanctuary for your dog to relax and decompress. A crate can also provide a safe home for your dog if your dog tends to be destructive while anxious.

7. Alternative therapies: Perpetually anxious pets might need more than attention and stimulation. If all other efforts do not help, ask your veterinarian about common oral medications that may be helpful.

   
   

Dogs help improve our quality of life in so many ways. We owe it to our furry friends to love and support them during stressful and anxious times. Be sure to take some time out of your day to show them just how much you love and care for them.