Stress Symptoms in Dogs

Just like humans, dogs too, suffer from stress that is developed due to various reasons. Stress symptoms in dogs are something most dog owners are unaware of and hence, it often goes unrecognized, leading to serious psychological implications for your dog. Stress is the unrecognized cause of most dog illnesses and dog health problems and may also be responsible for inappropriate and erratic dog behavior. As a dog owner, it is essential that you understand and know about everything that may cause stress in dogs and prevent them from falling prey to this condition.

Causes

Stress in dogs can be caused due to various reasons like separation anxiety, introduction of a new puppy to a dog, leaving the dog home alone for long hours, illness and pain, fear of firecrackers, thunder or loud music, ill treatment by previous owners or dog trainers, change of owners or change of residence, any developed phobia, etc. Here is a list of symptoms of stress in dogs and the ways you can use to prevent them.

Symptoms

Unusual Behavior: This is one of the foremost canine stress symptoms that signal that something is amiss with the dog. An unusual change in its mood, inability to follow commands and concentrate on training, no response to pampering, etc. fall under the unusual behavior category.

Excessive Barking or Whining: If you notice that your dog has been barking too much off late or has been whining unusually, especially in its sleep, then, there is surely something that has been troubling it. The barking may continue for an extended period of time without any particular reason and can get quite troublesome for the family members.

Panting: Dogs usually pant after being tired from physical activity or due to thirst, if your dog is being panting excessively apart from these two reasons, it could be one of the signs of stress in dogs.

Excessive Hunger or Thirst: Have you noticed your doggy's increasing appetite and thirst? Does it demand for food even after feeding it almost thrice a day? Does it carry around its water and food bowl or move it around making noises? These are all stress signs in dogs which lead to increased hunger and thirst.

Trembling or Shivering: This is one of the most obvious of stress symptoms. If your dog is trembling or shivering, it is obvious that something is causing it to fear or that it is feeling threatened by some person or object.

Restlessness: Restlessness in dogs could be a heat related symptom, especially in female dogs. Female dogs in heat tend to get increasingly restless due to the various changes taking place in them during that period. It could also indicate that your dog is stressed out or worried.

Destructive Behavior: Most dogs tend to indulge in destructive chewing to show their unhappiness regarding certain things. It may also mean that your dog is trying to signal its discomfort or nervousness regarding a person or another animal.

Lethargy and Laziness: When your dog is stressed out, it will refuse to indulge in any kind of physical activity like playing, going for walks, etc. It will refuse to move within the house and will confine itself to a corner in the home or its crate. In extreme cases, it may also refuse to eat or drink.

Other symptoms include sweating of the paws, furrowed brows and glazed eyes, droopy body posture, diarrhea, persistent skin and coat problems and considerable weight loss.

As responsible dog owners, you should watch out for the stress symptoms mentioned above and take adequate measures to prevent stress in your dog. A dog under stress will need a lot of care, love and reinforcement for the betterment of its condition and for its good overall health.