A little known fact about the animal kingdom is that animals just like humans are equally prone to anxiety bouts. In particular, dogs are quite susceptive to anxiety attacks showing various symptoms of the same. A thorough understanding of dog anxiety and the reasons behind it should help owners to keep their pets mentally healthy and reduce their anxiety.
The most common anxiety syndrome that dogs deal with regardless of breed or age is separation anxiety. When the dog gets separated from the owner, it shall get anxious and start behaving abnormally. Some dogs do not eat in this period while others defecate all over the place.
Another commonly observed anxiety is that which comes about because of thunderstorms and lighting. Dog’s ears are super sensitive and catch more frequencies than a human ear can fathom. This sensitivity leads to anxiety attacks in dogs during rough weather conditions.
Anxiety in dogs can also be a pointer towards a developing health condition or already present conditions such as thyrotoxicosis, hyperthyroidism, diabetes and encephalitis. Anxiety can manifest itself in many ways because of health issues.
If owners know how to catch symptoms of anxiety and can recognize them fast, then they can help their pets to overcome the condition faster. In the event that anxiety is left untreated, dogs can undergo change of character and become quite violent. Thus, an in-depth understanding of dog anxiety is a must for all owners.
The number one symptom of anxiety is excessive barking and whining at the same time. If a dog barks a lot it is not a sign of anxiety but if it whines along, then it is a sign of anxiety. Most dogs that are left alone at home a lot will show this behavior. When a trained dog scratches and chews at objects or defecates in the house, it is because of anxiety. If a dog shows excessive attention seeking behavior, more than usual, then it is probably quite anxious.
Most of these symptoms are exclusive to anxiety in dogs. If your dog starts showing these symptoms over a period of time, then it would be better off getting it to a veterinarian. You may just uncover an underlying health condition before it gets worse. If nothing comes out of the visit then re-training the dog is required using positive feedbacks in the form of treats for staying calm. Moreover, exercise is seen as a great anxiety reliever in dogs because the pent up energy is released through exercise and it is left with very little to get anxious over.
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