Humans and dogs have something in common and it’s not loyalty. Well, to your surprise, it’s ANXIETY & STRESS. Just like humans, our lovely pooches also undergo stress and anxiety. You must be thinking that they don’t have deadlines and dementor bosses (who would take the life out of you). If they have the most relaxing life, then what could cause them stress and anxiety? Before we dive into the causes, it’s important to understand that if anxiety in is not treated in time, it can lead to severe behavioral issues.
Don’t worry! In this blog, we will turn every stone for you. We will talk about anxiety in pets, its causes and symptoms. Post this, we will answer some of the most commonly asked questions. Anxiety, to define it in simple language, is the uncanny feeling of fear and uneasiness. Are you curious to know what could lead your poochie to the dark place of anxiety?
Anxiety And Its Causes In Dogs
There can be various causes of anxiety in our dogs. We have listed down the six most common ones.
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Fear-Related Anxiety
Loud noise, unexpected persons or animals, elements like hats or umbrellas, unfamiliar or strange locations, particular circumstances, such as a vet visit or automobile rides, as well as surfaces like grass or wood floors, can all trigger anxiety. Even though some dogs may just react to these triggers for a moment or two, an anxious dog may respond more severely. - Separation-Related Anxiety
Around 14% of dogs are known to have separation anxiety. When a dog has separation anxiety, he will struggle to feel at ease when left alone or taken away from his family. Unwanted behaviors including urinating in the home, damaging furniture and other items, and barking are common behavioral symptoms of separation anxiety. -
Age-Related Anxiety
Older dogs are more susceptible to age-related anxiety, which is linked to cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). Memory, learning, perception, and consciousness begin to deteriorate in CDS-affected dogs, much like they do in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease in humans. You must’ve noticed that senior dogs are relatively more confused and anxious.
How Do I Know If My Dog Is Suffering From Anxiety?
Your little adorable poochie will display a set of symptoms. Here is a list of symptoms that will help you know that your dog is suffering from anxiety.
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Aggression
Aggression can be directed either directly or indirectly. This can be related to fear-based anxiety. In some cases when a dog displays angry behavior, it means that they are afraid of the unpleasant outcome that may arise from the condition. -
Urinating or pooping inside the home
Separation anxiety frequently manifests as urinating and defecating indoors. Even if they are in the house, anxious dogs frequently build themselves up to the point where they must go pee or poop in the house. -
A destructive attitude
Separation anxiety frequently manifests as destructive actions. The damage is typically found near the entry and exit points, such as doorways and windows, but anxious dogs also run the danger of hurting themselves. Painful injuries can happen when a dog is attempting to escape from dog crates, windows, or even doors.
Apart from these behavioral signs and actions, there are some other signs too which can indicate anxiety in dogs.
- Drooling or Panting
- Excessive unnecessary barking
- Pacing
- Restlessness
- Compulsive or repetitive habits (repetitive barking, growling, shivering, self-harming)
How Can I Treat Anxiety In My Dog?
There are home remedies as well as ayurvedic medications for dogs that can help you calm them down. One such ayurvedic solution is CALM PET by Fur Ball Story. It is an ayurvedic solution for calming your dogs. It is made from natural herbs like Ashwagandha, Giloy, Jatamansi, and Tagara along with many others. These tablets are safe and side-effect free so you don’t need to worry! If you have a small breed dog, give 1 tablet twice a day and if they belong to a large breed, give 2 tablets twice a day.
- You need to administer the dog’s temperature after giving the medicine. In Ayurvedic medicine, results are not instantaneous, but rather long-term. These tablets work on the central nervous system of the dog which is why it may take up to 3-4 weeks for results to show. Stop giving the medicine if there is no improvement by the third week.
- But before you begin the medication, you need to be sure that the anxiety isn’t in the genes. Certain dog breeds are anxious by nature due to their genes. In this case, Calm Pet won’t be a helpful solution. Visit a Vet or take help from an animal behaviorist to know more about the basic nature of your pet.
Conclusion
Dogs can’t speak about their worries like us so when we shelter a pet it becomes our responsibility to take care of their well-being. Understanding their problems in-depth will help you give them better treatment at home and improve their quality of life. Let’s not forget that in times of stress and anxiety, they made us better by just being there. This is our time to give it back.
