Dog Anxiety Help:
How to Calm Down an Anxious Dog
Petmd.com
For people, anxiety can feel overwhelming and debilitating at times. If you have a dog that struggles with fear, anxiety, or stress, it’s important to be supportive and patient.
Calming a frequently anxious dog is possible, but it may require collaboration between you and your veterinarian, or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist.
If you have a nervous dog, here’s some insight you can use to identify the signs and triggers, and steps you can take to help calm your dog’s anxiety and improve their quality of life.
Recognize the Signs of Dog Anxiety
“Dogs use body language to communicate how they are feeling,” says Ashley Atkinson, CPDT-KA and behavior consultant at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary.
For example, if your dog seems uneasy or is fixated on licking, they could be communicating nervousness, stress, or fear. There are many subtle signs of dog anxiety.
According to Dr. Susan Konecny, RN, DVM, medical director of Best Friends Animal Society, some clinical signs include:
- Pacing
- Trembling
- Shaking
- Hypervigilance
- Lip licking
- Frequent yawning
- Decreased appetite
She also says that some physiological effects of anxiety can include:
- Increased salivation or drooling
- Dilated pupils
- Increased heart rate and panting
- Skin lesions from self-trauma
- Over-grooming
Talk With Your Veterinarian About Your Dog’s Anxiety
Once you learn how to detect when your dog is anxious, you can begin to identify the triggers that are causing the anxiety. Write down the signs that you see and describe the situations and circumstances when your dog showed these signs. Then schedule an appointment with your vet so they can rule out underlying medical issues, and help you get the right treatment for your dog.
Anytime a behavior change is noted in a pet, medical problems in other areas of the body could be at play. Your veterinarian can perform diagnostic tests to confirm that your pet is otherwise healthy.
In all cases, it’s best to seek the help of your veterinarian to make sure you are doing everything you can for your dog. When no other cause is found, your veterinarian can prescribe anxiety medication if needed, and/or recommend a veterinary behaviorist.
Board-Certified Veterinary Behaviorists
If your veterinarian thinks it’s necessary, they may refer you to a board-certified veterinary behaviorist to help your dog.
These veterinarians are specialists who have done a residency for three or more years in clinical behavior medicine, and passed a board-certification exam. Board-certified veterinary behaviorists are experts in treating fear, anxiety, and aggression in pets.
The American College of Veterinary Behaviorists has a directory on their website with the current board-certified veterinary behaviorists near you.
