Dogs are just like humans – they can experience anxiety. While anxiety in dogs is not uncommon, it can be difficult to know when your dog might be feeling anxious or what the signs of anxiety in dogs are. This blog post will discuss 5 common symptoms that indicate anxiety in dogs and how you should react if you notice any of these symptoms!
Panting
Panting is common in dogs, especially on a hot day, but if your dog starts to pant out of the blue, this could be a sign that anxiety has taken over their emotions and you should give them space to try to calm down!
Panting can also indicate excitement, so it’s important not to jump to conclusions about your dog’s emotional state based on panting alone.
When you notice that your dog is panting, it might be because they are nervous or anxious about something around them. This can happen if they hear an unfamiliar sound outside and don’t know what to make of it, or if there is something they are unsure about.
When you notice that your dog is panting, keep an eye on them and make sure they are in a safe and comfortable environment where there is nothing that could increase their anxiety.
You must monitor them to make sure they are feeling okay. If their anxiety gets worse, or if you notice excessive panting while your dog is calm and relaxed, this could be a sign of something more serious like heatstroke or an anxiety attack.
Whining and Crying
If your dog is whining and crying excessively, anxiety may be to blame. Dogs whine and cry for many reasons, so it’s important that you take the time to try and determine why your dog is doing this before assuming anxiety is at play (i.e., did they get into something they shouldn’t have or are they in pain).
However, if you notice these symptoms often without any obvious reason, anxiety may be the cause.
In these cases, anxiety is usually caused by environmental stressors such as a change in your dog’s daily routine or some sort of disruption to your dog’s day-to-day life (i.e., going on vacation).
If anxiety is causing your dog to whine and cry excessively, there are a few ways you can help calm them down.
You can try taking them for a walk or playing with them to tire them out so they have less energy to spend on anxiety-related behaviors such as whining and crying. You should also take away whatever might be causing anxiety. If anxiety is the result of a sudden change in their schedule, you should try to slowly introduce them back into their normal routine by feeding them at the same time each day or taking them for walks during times when they would normally go on one.
Hiding or Cowering
Does your dog keep disappearing?
If so, anxiety could be to blame.
Dogs who are feeling anxious will often try and remove themselves from the situation they find anxiety-inducing in an attempt to reduce their stress levels (i.e., if there is too much going on).
When your dog hides or cowers during times when you know they shouldn’t be anxious (i.e., when you come home), anxiety is usually the underlying cause.
If your dog tends to hide or cower in response to anxiety, there are a few things you can do to help them feel better.
You should try distracting your dog with an activity they enjoy like playing fetch or taking them for a walk.
You should also try to identify what might be anxiety-inducing for your dog and remove them from those situations as much as possible.
Urinating or Defecating in the House
If your dog is housetrained and suddenly starts urinating or defecating indoors, anxiety could be the cause.
Anxious dogs may regress in their housetraining skills if anxiety has been an ongoing problem.
A good way to stop your anxious dog from peeing and pooping in the house is to walk them often and give them plenty of access to an outdoor area.
If anxiety is a major issue for your dog, consider training them to use a doggy door so they can go outside whenever they need.
Anxiety can also cause physical problems that result in your dog having accidents inside the house. For example, anxiety could trigger a urinary tract infection or other health ailments that make it difficult for your dog to control his bladder.
You have two options if you think anxiety is causing your dog’s accidents.
First, you can take him to the vet for a checkup. Make sure your dog is healthy before you try anxiety reduction techniques on him. You don’t want to work yourself up over anxiety only to find out there’s something physical going on with your pooch that needs attention from a veterinarian first!
If it turns out anxiety isn’t responsible for your dog’s messes, it may be time to talk with a professional trainer or behaviorist.
If you think the anxiety might be causing your dog to have accidents inside the house, he needs treatment as soon as possible so his anxiety doesn’t get worse.
Inability to Settle
Dogs who are anxious and stressed may have trouble settling down. If your dog seems unable to calm himself even after being left alone for short periods, anxiety could be an issue.
Some anxious dogs may bark or whine when they’re left alone in a room. Others might pace back and forth nervously even if they have access to food, water, their bedding and an exit route from the room.
If your dog can’t seem to settle you could try leaving some old clothing with your scent on with his bedding or putting several of his favorite toys in the area where he’s being left alone.
You could also try playing with him before leaving to get his mind off anxiety or leave some soothing music on for your dog to listen to while you’re gone.
Conclusion
Anxiety is a very common problem for dogs. If you know the signs there are several ways to deal with them and help them feel more relaxed and secure.
When your dog has anxiety it can result in some negative behaviors if left untreated. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above it may be time to seek out professional help from a dog trainer or behaviorist.
In addition, giving your anxious dog plenty of exercise and keeping their mind engaged will also go a long way to help ease their anxiety.
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