Dogs face new challenges every day. From meeting unknown people to moving into a new home and from visiting boarding kennels to going to the veterinary clinic, there is a lot your furry companion goes through. Such experiences may cause fear and anxiety in many dogs, which may be difficult for them to handle. Therefore, as dog parents, it becomes our responsibility to understand the signs of anxiety in our dogs and help them deal with it. In this blog, we’re happy to discuss everything you need to know about anxiety in dogs and ways to help them cope.
Let’s get started!
Causes of Anxiety in Dogs
Let’s look at the common causes of anxiety in dogs.
- Separation from their Loved Ones
Separation anxiety is one of the most common reasons for anxiety in dogs. They often experience anxiety when separated from their biological mother at the time of their adoption. However, once they have gotten used to their human families, sudden separation from them can make them anxious and stressed.
- Medical Conditions
If your dog has an underlying medical condition such as pain or inflammation, it can get anxious. Also, for senior dogs, dementia or canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome can lead to anxiety.
- Road Trips
Road trips can cause immense anxiety in dogs. If your doggo is young, it can experience motion sickness during these trips, causing nausea, dizziness, and discomfort. Dogs also tend to get stressed out from the unfamiliarity of the experience, fast-moving scenery, confinement in a small place, and engine noise.
- Change in the Household
A change in the household disrupts a dog’s sense of security and can lead to severe anxiety. The change can include their adoption into a new family, moving into a new home, or loss of their pet parent. Also, if your dog has faced multiple adoptions or suffered from abandonment, they can develop anxiety due to past trauma.
- Visit to Grooming Facilities or Veterinary Hospital
Visits to unfamiliar places like grooming facilities and veterinary hospitals can be stressful for many dogs, as they tend to associate these visits with negative experiences like getting restrained during treatment and examination, discomfort, and pain. Also, if dogs anticipate uncomfortable procedures like nail trimming, medical examinations, and vaccinations, they can get severely anxious.
- Interaction with Unfamiliar Humans or Pets
Fear of interacting with unfamiliar people or animals is one of the most common triggers for dogs. They may associate these interactions with negative past experiences. Therefore, it is important to socialise dogs at a young age to help them remain calm around unfamiliar humans or pets.
Symptoms of Anxiety in Dogs
Dogs tend to display anxiety through their body language. Let’s look at some common signs of dog anxiety.
Mild Anxiety
- Lip licking
- Turning the head away
- Avoiding eye contact
- Yawning
Moderate Anxiety
Besides displaying the signs of mild anxiety, a dog with moderate anxiety may have the following symptoms.
- Fidgeting
- Panting
- Holding the ears back
- Furrowing the brow
- Rejecting treats
Severe Anxiety
A dog with severe anxiety displays the signs of mild and moderate anxiety, along with the following symptoms.
- Showing teeth
- Trembling
- Widening eyes
- Dilating pupils
- Running away
- Tucking the tail between legs
- Staring
How to Manage Anxiety in Dogs?
Anxiety in dogs can be managed with the help of a combination of veterinary care, treatments, and behavioural training. The most effective approach to manage anxiety in dogs is to find out its root cause. Therefore, if you suspect that your dog is experiencing anxiety, you should seek veterinary help for appropriate solutions and tips for calming your dog’s anxiety.
Final Words
Anxiety in dogs is a serious health issue that can affect their bond with their human parents and also impact their quality of life. As a pet parent, it is important that you get to the root cause of your doggo’s anxiety to help them with appropriate support. Parenting an anxious dog can be challenging, but with patience and perseverance, you will be able to help them feel more comfortable, confident, and ensure that they have a relaxed life.
