Here are the things you could do for dog anxiety treatment
Dog Anxiety – The “man’s best friend” can also be anxious at times and there are different reasons behind this condition of your pup.
Dogs are naturally social animals that are dependent on their group. In the wild, dogs are dependent on their pack while when they are domesticated, they depend on humans. Jean-Pierre Lautier, DVM, deputy CEO and pharmaceutical manager at pet care company Alzoo said that most of the time, the reasons for anxiety are often linked to this attachment to the group, based on the article in Reader’s Digest.
For dogs, it is very unusual and distressing to be away from their group. Aside from this, there are other reasons behind dog anxiety.
Each dog is unique but there are certain breeds that are more prone to have anxiety, especially when they can’t do the specific purpose they instinctively do. For example, border collies herd sheep, German shepherds and rottweilers are guard dogs, and the Jack Russell terrier is widely known as the best ratter, and when they can’t do these purposes, they get anxious.
Here are the top reasons why your dogs can get stressed:
- Separation anxiety
- Noise phobias
- Isolation anxiety
- Social anxiety
- Confinement anxiety
- New experiences
- Generalized anxiety
These reasons are self-explanatory, but there is a thin line between “separation” and “isolation” anxieties. Veterinarian Kelly Dunham, DVM, of IndeVets explained that in the case of isolation distress, the anxiety is not focused on a particular relationship but simply the fact that they are alone. With this, any warm body will relieve the stress.
Here are the obvious signs of dog anxiety:
- Avoidance
- Panting
- Pacing
- Whining and crying
- Trembling and shaking
- Inability to settle down or frequent changes in position
- Excessive drooling
- Excessive licking
- Eliminating inside the house
- Destructive behaviors
- Not eating
There are also subtle signs:
- Licking the lips
- Yawning
- Tucking in the tail
- Pulling the ears back
- Showing the whites of the eyes
Treatment
The first thing to do is to take away the source of the anxiety. Natural supplements can help also. Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is also used to treat anxiety in pups. Another way is behavioral modification which helps decrease the frequency and expression of anxiety behaviors.
Your dog can also receive medication for this condition. “When supplements and behavioral modifications are not easing dog anxiety, there are situational medications for dogs that can be used as needed, or there is daily medication like Prozac that can be given long-term while training and supplementation are continued,” Marisa Brunetti, VMD, the chief medical officer of IndeVets explained.
Meanwhile, the Dogs Playing Poker Painting showed no sign of anxiety.