Unlike conditions such as diabetes, anxiety is not purely a physical ailment. When humans have anxiety, they have the ability to say how they are feeling and understand what is going on. With dogs, they will exhibit symptoms of anxiety, but they cannot speak up for themselves. Anxiety is a behavioral disorder that often manifests itself when the dog is away from its owner or during storms. Dog anxiety is manageable, it is just important to understand the symptoms so you can be proactive for your pet!
Causes and Symptoms
Oftentimes, dog anxiety can be traced back to a major life change or trauma. If you adopted your dog, learn as much as you can about his or her background, such as how they ended up at a shelter, if they were abused, etc. Other potential causes include moving to a new home, a death of one of your family members, or another medical condition.
Essentially, you will want to look out for abnormal behaviors. Dog anxiety leads to agitation and panic, which oftentimes is displayed through hiding, barking, excessive pacing, howling, chewing items they shouldn’t, self-harm, and more. Though the most common form of dog anxiety is separation anxiety, your pooch can also experience social or noise anxiety.
Treatment
If your dog is exhibiting any of the aforementioned symptoms, it is important to bring him or her to a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment. Depending on the severity of dog anxiety, your veterinarian can recommend certain changes to make in your home, as well as prescription medication to help calm your dog. Little changes, such as leaving the radio on, re-entering the home quietly, and rewarding your dog for being calm, can do wonders for your pet’s anxiety. Destructive behaviors in your dog are not something to ignore; make an appointment at Metro Vet if your dog is participating in abnormal and/or damaging behavior.
Courtesy of: Dog Anxiety Treatment
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