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Could Your Dog Have Anxiety?

Is your dog exhibiting problematic new behaviors like urinating indoors or excessive barking when you leave the house? It is possible your dog could be suffering from anxiety. If you are wondering how to help your dog, keep reading to learn about symptoms, how you can prevent anxiety, and treatment options.

Anxiety Symptoms

Unlike humans, recognizing anxiety in animals can be a little bit more complicated. Some common symptoms of anxiety for dogs can include uncontrollable drooling, urinating inside the house, excessive panting, barking, destructive behaviors, and even aggression.  Some symptoms can be managed through training and desensitization, which we will cover shortly.

Causes of Anxiety

Anxiety in dogs can be caused by some of the same issues that cause humans to be anxious. Fear of situations, like car rides, strangers, or loud noises are common. There is also anxiety that comes along with aging. Dementia can be quite frightening and cause intense anxiety for older dogs. The most common type of anxiety in dogs, however, is separation anxiety, where your pet becomes extremely anxious when left alone.

Preventing Anxiety

For many dogs, anxiety can be prevented. Properly socializing your dog at a young age can be helpful in avoiding anxiety around people or other animals. This can mean taking your pet to dog parks, training classes, or even the pet store. Obedience training is a very important tool as well. Proper training can help establish trust between you and your dog as well as help build their confidence. It also allows ease of exposure to other dogs in a supervised environment.

Treatment Options

Working with your veterinarian, you can get a better understanding of what type of anxiety your dog is dealing with and the best options for treatment. One option for helping your pet is through exposure therapy, or desensitization. With this type of therapy, you would work to expose your dog to their trigger slowly, using positive reinforcement and rewards for their bravery. This type of therapy is best handled with a professional dog trainer. There are also medications that can be helpful in managing anxiety symptoms in stressful situations. Additionally, some pet owners have found success in using CBD oil. Before trying any of these options though, please speak with your veterinarian.

To determine if your dog has anxiety and the best way to help them, speak with your veterinarian.

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Sat: 9p – 3p
Sun: CLOSED
Wed: 8a - 4p (Urgent Care)