What Triggers Anxiety in Dogs and How to Calm Them?

Are you aware of why your dog is acting a bit differently than usual? It’s not normal for a pet to do so. Learn about what is triggering your pet and how to treat him.

Have you ever heard your dog whimpering or avoiding eye contact with you? They may look restless or have tucked tails in between the legs, which are all signs that your dog is not okay. He may have some kind of anxiety that is bothering him, and he cannot do anything about it. The symptoms of anxiety in dogs can be easily detectable, while in some cases it may not. At this point, pet owners need to take charge and notice what’s bothering their furry mate and what you can do to help him with his anxiety. 

Signs Your Dogs Is Having Anxiety

The signs that you can notice in your pets while they are anxious are:

  • Panting.

  • Frequent urination.

  • Escaping.

  • Shaking and trembling.

  • Whimpering or barking.

  • Chewing on everything.

  • Pacing.

  • Drooling.

  • Depression and restlessness.

  • Avoiding social interaction.

What Triggers Them To Show Such Behaviours

There are several factors that can trigger anxiety in dogs. The mainly observed forms of anxiousness are: 

  • Generalized Anxiety: This type of anxiety is hard to figure out. There is no specific reason for a dog being anxious. It can also be due to unnoticed events that may have happened before your pet becomes a family member. It can also be due to past trauma that marked the onset of anxiety.

  • Separation Anxiety: It can occur due to loneliness or boredom. It happens when the pets are away from their owners or move to new places other than their usual home. Your dog may start showing destructive behavior like barking, chewing things, or may urinate frequently.

  • Social Anxiety: It triggers when they do not like being around new people or dogs. This can happen if they have not been socialized in the past or hated it from the beginning. Some dogs like being alone and are social, but in some, it triggers anxiety.

  • Fear Related Anxiety: They may get scared due to loud noise like loud music, the sound of thunder, fireworks, or other noise. They may start to run or can even try to escape. Fear-related anxiety can make them restless.

  • Age-Related Anxiety: As the dog ages, it may get anxious due to illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive dysfunction syndrome. They may get confused, and their memory starts to decline. It can induce uneasiness due to ailments and is often age-related. 

How To Calm Anxiety In Dogs

To problems like anxiety in dogs, there are solutions as well that can help your dog.

  • Train or play with them: You can start spending more time with your dog by engaging them in activities like training them or playing with them. Offer them treats, and teach them to deal with the situation by countering the problem. 

  • Use CBD oil: CBD oil is the best anxiety healer in the case of pets. Thedailyworld explains how CBD oil calms down the anxious dog by binding with the endocannabinoid receptors. It reduces the symptoms of anxiety significantly and also offers other health benefits.

  • Talk to your vet: Seeking a vet’s advice when the problem is critical is important. Your dog’s vet can help you understand the problem and give better advice from their experience.

Conclusion

Anxiety can bother your pets too. Your dogs can suffer anxiety due to many reasons. It is significant to treat them on time, or else they can harm themselves in many ways. Anxiety can have visible symptoms, but sometimes it may not. The pet owner should take care of their pet in such a condition and start their treatment immediately.