How to Treat Anxiety in Dogs

Does your dog have anxiety? Just like humans, dogs can experience anxiety. In fact, most dogs will experience anxiety at some point in their life. This anxiety can become more serious and long-term if action is not taken to control it, which could lead to debilitating behavioural issues and all kinds of health problems.

As a result, it’s important to know the signs of anxiety in dogs and how to treat it.

This post takes a look at some of the common causes of anxiety in dogs, as well as a few of the signs of anxiety to look out, before delving into some of the ways in which you can help treat your dog’s anxiety.

What causes anxiety in dogs?

Many things can trigger anxiety in a dog. Some of the most common causes include:

Separation from loved ones

Dogs are very prone to separation anxiety – especially when they’re still young. Most dogs will first experience separation anxiety as a puppy after being separated from their mother and litter. This does not last too long providing a puppy is properly adjusted to their new home (this post delves more into adjusting a puppy to their new home).

Many dogs also experience separation anxiety when separated from their owner. Dogs that are left alone are particularly likely to experience anxiety. Having some familiar company can reduce these feelings of anxiety, but most dogs will still be unsettled.

Changes in routine/lack of routine

Just like many humans, dogs love routine. It helps them know what to expect and to relax. Without routine, dogs may feel that they have to constantly be on guard and may act more erratically.

Big changes in routine can also throw dogs off and make them feel anxious. This includes things like moving home or changing their food.

New members of the household

Dogs may become anxious when new pets or people are introduced to a household. They may see them as competition or even a threat. While dogs are very territorial and will behave aggressively to people they don’t know, others may behave more timidly. It varies depending on the dog and the new arrival.

Abuse/trauma

Some rescue dogs may have been abused by previous owners, which could result in them being naturally more anxious. Certain traumatic events can also cause phobias in dogs just like humans. For example, a dog may become afraid of young kids if one child previously injured them, or they may become afraid of getting in a car if they experienced an unpleasant car journey.

Lack of stimulation

Some dog breeds need to be kept regularly stimulated. Boredom may lead to restlessness and anxiety of not knowing what to do. An example could include locking a dog in a room all day with no toys.

Sensory overload

While not enough stimulation can make dogs anxious, so can too much stimulation. Dogs have heightened senses of hearing and smell, and so can become particularly anxious when exposed to frequent loud noises or lingering unpleasant smells. Many dogs get very anxious around times of the year when there are fireworks. Similarly, strong smells of citrus of vinegar may cause dogs to avoid certain rooms.

Are some dog breeds more anxious than others?

All dog breeds are prone to anxiety. However, some dogs are known to get more anxious to certain triggers.

Research has found that the breeds most prone to anxiety are Lagotto Romagnolos, Wheaten Terriers, Spanish Water Dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs and Miniature Schnauzers. Mixed-breed dogs have also been found to be more anxious than pure-bred dogs, although it’s worth noting that mixed breed dogs are less at risk of developing most other health problems.

Signs of anxiety in dogs

Some dogs are quite good at hiding their anxiety. However, most will exhibit some symptoms that show that they are in distress. Some of the telltale signs that a dog is anxious include:

• Whining/barking: Many dogs bark when exposed to threats to whine when lonely or bored.
• Eyes, ears and tail: When anxious, it is common for dogs’ eyes to widen, their ears to go back and their tail to go between their legs.
• Pacing and restlessness: A lot of dogs pace up and down when stressed. Some try to sleep or sit down but keep changing position or getting up.
• Excessive yawning/drooling/licking: Some dogs keep yawning as a way of relieving stress (most commonly from boredom, although it can be due to other stress triggers). Others start drooling a lot, or start licking their lips or themselves to stay stimulated.
• Trying to hide or escape: Many dogs will try to run away from stress triggers. For example, some dogs will run away from a vacuum cleaner and hide in another room.
• Changes in appetite: If a dog is in a state of constant stress, they may refuse to eat. Others may become extra ravenous and try to eat foods they wouldn’t usually try to go for.
• Changes in bowel movements: Anxiety can also cause some dogs to develop diarrhoea. During periods of extreme stress, some dogs may also feel unable to hold their bowels and may poo inside – even if long trained not to.
• Panting/shaking: A lot of dogs pant a lot when stressed. When under a lot of stress, dogs may start to tremble too.
• Foul smells: A lot of dogs express their anal glands when stressed. This can lead to a foul fishy odour.
• Excessive shedding: Very stressful situations or prolonged stress can also cause some dogs to lose their hair. It is natural for many dogs to shed their coat regularly. However, you should look out for lots of shedding in a short period of time or lack of hair regrowth.

How to relieve anxiety in your dog

There are several measures you can take to help alleviate feelings of anxiety in your dog. A few examples are included below.

Play with/exercise them daily

Regular physical activity and bonding time can help alleviate boredom. It can also tire out your dog, so that they’re able to deal with separation anxiety more easily (many dogs will take a nap after a long walk). Some breeds need more exercise and play time than others. Make sure you understand your dog’s needs.

Enjoy strokes and cuddles

Many dogs can also be calmed simply by providing physical contact. Petting your dog or even allowing them to lie by you while touching you could help them feel calmer in stressful situations such as a fireworks display.

Allow them some private space

While dogs love attention, they can still get overwhelmed by too much physical contact. This is common in families with young kids or when guests are coming around. In these cases, dogs may need a private space to retreat to in order to relax. A crate is the best option for this – just make sure to tell everyone not to bother your dog if they retreat to their crate.

Play music/put the radio on

Dogs can get more anxious when left alone in a quiet environment. Studies have shown that playing a radio or some background music can help put dogs at ease by giving them a sense of being around people. Music can also be used to drown out loud sounds like fireworks or traffic, which may frighten your dog at certain times.

Use calming familiar scents

You can also calm your dog by introducing familiar soothing scents. For example, separation anxiety in puppies can be reduced by leaving them with a blanket that smells of their mother. Similarly, leaving a dog with an item of clothing that smells of you could calm them if they are staying around someone else’s house.

Try anxiety medication for dogs

There are many supplements containing natural anxiety-relieving ingredients that you can buy for dogs. Ingredients to look out for include l-theanine, lemon balm, valerian and chamomile. These supplements can be added to their food. You can also buy supplements including ingredients like melatonin to improve your dog’s sleep quality. Stronger anxiety medication can be prescribed by a vet.

Should you get professional help?

Professional intervention is sometimes necessary with very anxious dogs. There are a few professionals that you can talk to.

An animal communicator is one professional you can look into. These professionals can help translate feelings that your dog may be having – which could include identifying sources of stress. This could include spending some time with your dog to truly understand their behaviours.

Animal behavioural therapists can meanwhile help diagnose sources of anxiety and help your dog to overcome them. This could include alternative training methods to help reduce stress triggers. Thi can be very useful for dogs that have experienced trauma or abuse.

Finally, you can consult a vet. On top of prescribing medication, vets can check that anxiety isn’t caused by a physical health issue. For example, joint pain may make a dog afraid of stairs, while toothache could make a dog anxious of food.

Conclusion

Anxiety in dogs has many causes and there are many possible ways to treat it. By taking your time to identify triggers and explore treatment options, you can look after your dog’s mental health.