Just like their human counterparts, many animal species can suffer from anxiety.
You might have noticed that certain triggers set your dog off barking non-stop, hiding, or soiling the carpet. Or, your beloved dog might be displaying unusual behaviors like uncharacteristic aggression, excessive drooling or licking, or destructive behavior. Such behaviors are all signs that your beloved four-legged friend is dealing with anxiety. Don’t despair, however: just as with humans, help is available for a dog with anxiety. To help you anticipate any potentially stressful situations, here are three reasons why your dog might be suffering from anxiety.
Separation anxiety
One of the more common forms of anxiety in dogs is separation anxiety. As pack animals, dogs look to the pack leader – their owner in a domestic situation – for protection, comfort, and guidance. Regularly losing the pack leader when you leave the house to go to work, or taking your dog to a boarding kennel when off on vacation, can understandably trigger a huge amount of stress and anxiety in your pet. To help a dog who is suffering from separation anxiety, try playing down your goodbyes and hellos when you leave the house, as an emphasis of these will only reinforce your dog’s fear of absence. Additionally, make sure that there are plenty of comforting items around, such as a favorite blanket, which will help your beloved dog to cope while you are not around.
Fear-related anxiety
Like humans, there are certain situations that dogs find overwhelming and stressful. Loud noises, like fireworks and thunderstorms, can set your dog off barking and hiding in the bedroom, as can unusual visual stimuli like hats and umbrellas. Your dog might be fearful of new places, animals, and people – children and men are particularly scary to a dog, as men are generally taller and children generally having higher-pitched voices. Or, a specific situation, such as car rides and visiting the vet, could trigger anxiety in your dog. To help your dog to handle fear-provoking situations such as these, have a couple of calming treats on hand, such as those found on ceebeedoo.com, and make sure that you offer plenty of reassurance.
Age-related anxiety
As a dog ages, they can show signs of cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS). Similar to dementia in humans, it is a condition affecting elderly dogs, in which their memory, perception, learning, and awareness start to decline. The gradual loss of these senses can understandably be very frightening for a dog who does not understand what is happening and can result in your dog becoming more fearful of people and places that they were once comfortable with. To help a senior dog suffering from age-related anxiety, make sure that you continue to provide plenty of mental stimulation. Your dog might no longer be able to run and jump like a puppy, but he still needs something to keep his mind occupied, and playtime and exercise provide a routine and helps to reduce anxiety.
Thanks for reading and y’all stay dandy.
-Diego
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