Understanding our pets is increasingly important. Given the lack of verbal communication, there are other ways in which pets, specifically dogs, can manifest. Either to demonstrate love, sadness, anger and even diseases, such as anxiety.Although it is not a condition that produces obvious symptoms in the dog, it is a disease that affects the psychological aspect of the animal. That is, it significantly influences his behavior. For this reason, knowing how to identify when a dog is affected by anxiety and, even more, how to act in those cases, it is elementary so that the canine maintains a quiet emotional health. Considering this, we have prepared the following article that will help you know What to do if your dog suffers anxiety and how to identify the symptoms of this condition.
Can dogs suffer anxiety?
One of the most frequent doubts that arise to people who have dogs as pets is whether they really can suffer episodes of anxiety. The answer to this question is totally affirmative. Dogs can frequently suffer anxiety. These episodes can be continuous, if the dog faces situations that generate stress, or casual. Everything will depend on the context where the canine is usually found. Anxiety in dogs can be defined as a condition that appears before an event or scenario of difficult adaptation for the dog, and that can be exacerbated depending on the situation that is. In any case, the Causes of anxiety in dogs They are usually very diverse and knowing them will help them to be avoided and we can anticipate this situation.
Causes of anxiety in dogs
Episodes of anxiety in dogs can be multicausal. However, some concrete cases can generate an alteration in the behavior of the dog and make it fall into anxiety. Let's look at some of them:
Very strong noises
Strong noises are one of the main causes of anxiety in dogs. These significantly alter the animal's behavior, producing nervousness and restlessness. The most common noises that cause alteration in dogs are the fireworks and the lightning of the thunderstorms (rays and thunder). Observing dogs looking to protect themselves in a safe place with nervousness is a sign that these noises produce anxiety.
Separation or loneliness
Leaving our dog alone for some time can suddenly generate. Feeling abandoned or neglected for a long time, that feeling becomes an alteration of behavior linked to anxiety. In the case of not spending enough time to the care or attention of pets, they can make them feel alone and trigger an anxiety response in them. It is important to remember that, according to the canine breed that is made of pet, the attention needs may vary significantly. The ideal is to know in detail the care of the dog race that we have and thus provide them properly. Articles where you can consult the care of specific breeds:
Trips
Long trips, by bus or car, can also generate anxiety to our dogs. The fact of traveling a path unknown to him can generate fear, which would end up becoming an anxiety episode. To do this, we recommend that you consult the post of tips to travel with your dog. Know Identify anxiety episodes It is another important aspect if you want to anticipate this situation.
Canine anxiety symptoms
The Anxiety manifestations in dogs They will depend largely on the factor that this condition is causing. For example, if it is anxiety product of some strong noise the dog can present nervousness when trying immediately to seek refuge, it is very restless, excess saliva in its mouth and groans, are some of the most characteristic symptoms. Paying attention to any of these symptoms will make you advance to the anxiety episode and take some measures to counteract it. Especially if they are taking a walk, because when they hear a strong noise, the dog can try to release the strap to run away in search of refuge.
Now, if it is a separation anxiety, the symptoms are usually more pronounced, and even be confused with hyperactivity or bad behavior: It causes damage at home, howls or barking incessantly, and even has stool and urine elimination inside the house. This is because the dog feels loneliness on the part of its owners and looks for ways to vent that feeling that generates the anxiety of believing abandoned. In puppies, this type of anxiety is usually more common, because his arrival at a new home, unknown to him, can cause him fear and resist to remain alone for the first days. Attending these aspects, taking care of the dog and adapting it to your new house with socialization practices is the best way to avoid it.
What to do to avoid anxiety in dogs?
Controlling external factors that generate anxiety, such as firecrackers or storms, is a fairly complicated process, so avoiding it will not be entirely possible. However, trying to reduce the effects that these situations cause in our dog is very simple. Providing the canine with a feeling of protection and shelter will be enough for this to improve its anxiety.
If the cause is the noise
If what triggers the anxiety episode in our dog is the strong noise, then some aspects must be taken.
Mainly, to be on the street, the dog will look for where to take refuge. This can be a risk situation, so it is recommended in this case is to stop and try to distract your attention from the rumble, making you see that we are by your side. This will make him feel quieter and more protected. If you are at home, the most viable solution is to close the windows so that the noise decreases and play or distract it with orders such as "see" or "sit down", in addition to rewarding it when it fulfills them, it will make the dog forget what anxiety produces.
If the cause is loneliness
If the stress is produced by the feeling of abandonment, it is necessary to consider first the time you are dedicating to your pet and identify how much attention they require certain dog races before adopting one.
Secondly, teaching him from caHorro to socialize and the things that he should not do in his home will be adequate for the dog not to cause damage. In general, canine anxiety can be easily controlled both in adult dogs and puppies, taking into account the necessary considerations.
