How to Recognize the Signs & Symptoms of Dog Anxiety
Are you wondering if your pup is suffering from anxiety? In this article, we highlight some of the causes and signs that your four-legged friend may be in distress.
What Causes Anxiety in Dogs?
There are many different causes of anxiety in dogs. Some dogs and dog breeds are more susceptible than others. Generally speaking, dog anxiety falls into two main categories: situational and behavioral.
Situational anxiety
Your dog is usually fine but gets anxious and stressed out in response to specific environments, situations, or things. Common triggers include thunderstorms, fireworks, separation and traveling. Noise phobia is a fear of loud noises which prompts the dog to avoid or escape the noise. It’s estimated that one third of dogs are affected by noise phobia. For adopted pooches that have experienced trauma in their past, things like the vet, strangers, other dogs, or busy and chaotic places can also trigger anxiety.
Recognizing the symptoms of situational anxiety in dogs
- Pacing or lifting his front paw
- Nervous licking of the lips, panting, salivating and yawning
- Whimpering and trembling
- Pushing ears back and tail tucking
- Aggressive behaviors
- Tail-chasing and circling
- Dilated pupils
- Anti-social behaviors: examples include moving away from other dogs or people, hiding, reduced activity, and passive escape behaviors
Behavioral anxiety
Behavioral anxiety is when your dog has a constant feeling of anxiousness. This leads your pup to act out or behave in negative ways that aren’t normal. Sometimes situational anxiety can turn into behavioral anxiety when your dog struggles to process triggers. Separation anxiety is probably the most common form of behavioral anxiety, and is even more common in older dogs. It may happen when your fur baby is more human-dependent and relies on companionship.
Recognizing Symptoms of Behavioral Anxiety in Dogs
- Urination or defecation on the floor despite being house trained
- Destructive behaviors like chewing and scratching
- Excessive vocalization like barking and crying
- Excessive panting and pacing
- Actively trying to escape
- Increased, out-of-context and potentially harmful activities like constant licking, biting and self-harm
If your pup is showing signs of distress, Okoa Pet “Hush, Puppy” CBD calming treats may be able to help. These soft chew treats are all-natural supplements formulated for nervous pups by a distinguished veterinarian. They promote a calm demeanor, support relaxation, and help your pet cope with separation, travel, and tension. The uniquely effective “Hush, Puppy” formula combines broad-spectrum hemp with naturally occurring CBD and other proven, calming ingredients including chamomile, tryptophan, and choline. In an observational study, pet parents reported a reduction in stress-related behaviors including licking, chewing, excessive barking and shaking.
Okoa Pet Veterinary Science Officer Dr. Robert Silver offers some practical, holistic tips and tricks to help with separation stress. Doc Silver has 38 years of clinical experience as a veterinarian.
