Dog Anxiety
What is Dog Anxiety
Dog anxiety is a term used to describe the state of a dog when he or she is scared, startled, stressed out, or anxious. These symptoms typically cause a dog to act out in an unusual way that may be detrimental for his/her health and wellbeing.
The onset of dog anxiety can occur suddenly, and the severity can vary based on context of the situation. Most dog owners refer to it as “Dog Stress” because of its relation to the human anxiety disorder, also of the same name.
Symptoms of Dog Anxiety
A dog who is suffering from anxiety will exhibit a variety of symptoms, each one being associated with a different symptom.
Symptoms include
- Destruction of Property – Dog anxiety will cause your dog to destroy your property out of fear. The destruction may be caused by chewing or scratching up your belongings. Your furniture could be damaged as well.
- Destructive Behaviours – Your dog may start biting, growling, and barking.
- Change in Characteristics – Your dog may start acting out, becoming more aggressive or changing his/her personality. Giving a dog anxiety medicine can help change the behaviour for good as long as it is recommended by the vets.
- Disorientation in Space – Your dog could lose his/her sense of direction and wander away from the location of which they are supposed to be at.
- Aggressive Behaviour – If not treated, dog anxiety can cause a dog to become aggressive. Eventually the aggression may lead to a dog biting you.
- Changes in Appearance – A dog with anxiety may lose or gain weight and their fur may become dull and dry.
What Can I Do to Prevent Dog Anxiety?
Knowing what causes the anxiety in your dog will help you to treat the condition and prevent or treat more severe symptoms of anxiety later on.
You can also train your dog to be calmer using positive reinforcement methods. If you suspect that your dog is experiencing some sort of anxiety, it will help keep him at home if you take him for a walk at least a few times a day.
You can also treat your dog with anxiety medication when prescribed by the vet. These medications help to calm your dog and can be used daily on an as needed basis.
Things to avoid
- Making noise around the house that might startle or frighten your dog
- Climbing into the bed with him or leaving him alone if you have a partner, roommate, or anyone who might make noise.
- Picking up a dog who is experiencing anxiety will cause him to become more anxious as he sees you picking up another person. He will think that you are going to cause him harm in some way.
Consequences of Dog Anxiety
Due to the fact that this disorder can cause great distress for you and your dog, it is very important to treat it before it gets out of hand and causes more severe problems. If your dog has anxiety, you may have noticed some other side effects that are causing a disruption in his life such as the destruction of property or a change in behaviour. Anxiety can also cause unwanted behaviours such as destruction of property.
The reason that anxiety is a serious condition is because it can cause your dog to react negatively to his surrounds. If the anxiety continues to worsen, your dog could become aggressive towards you or anyone else he/she sees as an outside threat.
When you deal with anxiety in your dog’s behaviour early on, it may be very easy to treat. Later on, it can be much more difficult because the symptoms have progressed and caused more harm. The longer you leave dog anxiety untreated, the harder it will be to control and cure completely.
Why Should I Get Professional Help?
If your dog is suffering from anxiety, it is very important that you treat him right away. It is recommended that you visit a professional if you are not confident in your ability to get your dog the treatment that he needs.
Dog anxiety medication can be extremely helpful for treatment. However, if you are not familiar with how a dog should be treated, it may be difficult to choose the right medication and dose for your particular case and it could have adverse effects on his health.
The same applies to treating with behaviour modification techniques. If you are not confident in your ability to train your dog, take him for walks, and make sure he is properly stimulated and exercised, a trained professional can help you immensely.
Finding a dog trainer who specializes in working with anxiety cases can be difficult because there are not that many options available to the general public. It is important that you only seek out one who has a lot of experience with dogs and knows how to recognize the symptoms early on.
Should I Use Dog Anxiety Pills
Before you purchase dog anxiety pills, remember that these medications can cause a number of side effects and are not as effective for certain forms of anxiety in dogs as they are in humans. There are some situations that call for the use of medication and others that do not.
Dog anxiety pills are not always effective for every dog and the type of pill that is used can make it more or less effective. There are several different types of medication that can be used as a treatment for dog anxiety, including antianxiety drugs, antidepressants, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medications can have side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite and constipation among others. If it may be more beneficial for your dog to consult a vet first and seek professional training and help before medications.
Summary
Dog anxiety is a serious disorder and it can be treated with dog anxiety pills, behaviour modification techniques and/or professional training.
It is important to give your dog the proper treatment that he needs as early as possible. A trained professional can determine the best method of treatment and/or set up training programs for your dog. A trained professional can also offer you advice on how to handle your dog’s symptoms and behaviour. Be sure to check with your vet before you start any kind of medication or treatment.
