Anxiety in dogs is a sense of fear or sadness over an unknown or unsure reason. It is sometimes more delusional than real. Bitter experiences in the past can also make dogs anxious about the future. Anxiety in dogs is a major concern among dog owners. Anxious dogs often behave unusually, they avoid or dislike playing and socializing normally.
Just Dogs can experience anxiety or fear at any point in time. Dog with Anxiety issues behaves unusually than normal dogs. Dogs get anxious for various reasons. Most can be helped by giving close attention to the behavior of your dog and understanding by their body language.
Separation Anxiety in Dogs
Separation anxiety is the most common type of anxiety in dogs. If a dog was not trained to be independent, he would experience separation anxiety whenever his owners leave him home alone.
Barking continuously, Pooping or peeing on the floor, Chewing shoes and similar stuff, Banging at the doors, not eating and aggression are some of the behaviors the dogs would exhibit when they get to experience separation anxiety.
Fear or Anxious of Loud Sounds/Thunderstorms
Dogs are sensitive to loud noises such as firecrackers and thunderstorms. They become terrified of thunders and storms. It’s also been said that for some dogs the fear of thunderstorms increases when its owners wrongly handle the early signs of their fear by comforting or punishing them. Comforting them makes them feel like it is a reward and punishing makes them get scarier.
Symptoms of Anxiety in Dogs
1. Peeing or Pooping on the Floor.
2. Destructing things around them.
3. Barking continuously
4. Whining
5. Trembling or shaking
6. Not Eating Food
7. Depression
8. Aggressive Behaviour
How to treat anxiety in dogs?
1 . Take him to the veterinarian to get him analyzed for whether or not he require a medical treatment.
2 . Socialize with your dog more. Take him outside for a walk, Introduce him to new people and dogs
3. Give more physical activity to your regularly. Physical exercise improves the physical and mental well being of your dog.
4. Feed him Balanced nutrition because proper nutrition is crucial for the overall wellness of your dog.
5. Try to understand the body language of your dog. The moment you get to figure out why he is anxious , you can easily keep him distracted from that. Try to avoid pampering or punishing him at that time.
How to treat Separation Anxiety in dogs?
In the case of Separation Anxiety in dogs, If possible arrange a family member or a relative to take care of him whenever you are leaving. otherwise, make it your habit to leave the house casually without expressing much that you are leaving and overtime your dog get to understand it.
Before leaving the house, Make sure you kept enough Water, Food, & treats to make sure he wouldn’t starve. Give your dog more space to go to and take rest. Leave some toys for him to play.