Anxiety Symptoms in Dogs

We all know about anxiety and its symptoms in humans. Even animals may suffer from anxiety and the symptoms may vary from one to another. If you have pets like dogs and cats, it will always be beneficial to have a basic understanding about the condition, so that you can identify the symptoms and take remedial measures.

Causes

Anxiety is one of the common problems in dogs and there are many different causes for this condition. While certain diseases and medical conditions can cause anxiety in dogs, separation from the owner is mostly seen as a reason for this condition. Anxiety can be caused by dog health problems like pre-diabetes, hyperthyroidism, encephalitis and thyrotoxicosis. Even loud noises from thunderstorms and fireworks can trigger anxiety in dogs. Some of the dog breeds are found to be predisposed to anxiety. This include Border Collies, Shelties and German shepherds. This does not mean that all dogs that belong to these breeds are prone to anxiety. Anxiety is a problem that can be found in any dog breed, but in the above said breeds, it is more common than in others. It has been observed that anxiety symptoms in dogs may vary with the underlying cause.

Signs and Symptoms

Symptoms of anxiety in dogs may vary from one dog to the other. In some cases, the symptoms may not be prominent and this makes it difficult to identify the condition. These symptoms can turn destructive too. The following are some of the common canine anxiety symptoms.

• Excessive dog barking and whining are some of the anxiety symptoms in dogs. The dog may bark and whine, as you leave the house or on seeing other dogs or neighbors passing by the house.
• Common symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs is defecating or urinating in the house, in your absence. The dog may also avoid food and other activities.
• Anxiety can make the dog destructive in nature. The animal may chew things and may also start digging and scratching.
• A dog with anxiety may scratch the doors and windows and may also try to escape from the house. He/she may yawn, lick, pant and whine. While panting after a walk or run is normal, panting at rest can be a symptom of anxiety.
• Certain dogs with anxiety like to spend time alone, while some others seek comfort and assurance from the owner. Depression is one of the common symptoms of anxiety in dogs and the animal may refrain from its regular activities.
• Dogs may crave for attention from the owner and in their efforts, they may show excessive energy. Once in a while, it is normal, but, if it is a regular thing, you have to get your dog diagnosed for anxiety.

These symptoms may not be similar for all dogs with this condition, even if the underlying causes are same. For example, all dogs with separation anxiety may not respond in a similar manner. A dog with thunderstorm phobia may run around or start chewing or even defecate or urinate. These symptoms may be seen in dogs with separation anxiety.

Diagnosis and Treatment

How to recognize anxiety symptoms in dogs? As most of these symptoms (like barking and whining) come under normal dog behavior, it may happen that they get unnoticed. The difference lies in the fact that a normal dog behavior can be a symptom of dog anxiety, when it is in excess or is untimely or abnormal. In such cases you must get your dog diagnosed for anxiety. If you notice such symptoms getting persistent in your dog, then you have to consult the vet, who will analyze the condition of the dog. Certain tests are done, so as to detect anxiety in the dog. The treatment for anxiety in dogs is decided on the basis of the underlying causes. If it is a medical condition, treatment is aimed at resolving that condition. In case of pet separation anxiety, you have to train your dog by leaving him alone for small periods. The animal will get adjusted gradually. In case of anxiety caused by thunderstorms and other loud noises, develop the tolerance level of your dog by exposing him to the fear factors in small amounts. Make sure to reward the animal, if it does not panic, but stays calm.

In most cases, anxiety symptoms in dogs is a problem that is found to be mostly behavioral in nature. It can be combated with proper training and antianxiety medication for dogs. So, you can remedy this stressful condition in dogs, by detecting and diagnosing it at the early stage itself.