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How to Reduce Anxiety for You and Your Pets in the Home

How to Reduce Anxiety for You and Your Pets in the Home

Posted by Elise Morgan - Guest Author Submission (Twitter: @elisemthewriter) on 8th May 2019

Image by pexels

Just as we can feel anxious and find it difficult to get through the day, so can dogs. Anxiety can affect all breeds of dog and lead to behavioral issues if not identified and acted upon. Understanding your dog’s behavior is helpful in spotting signs of anxiety – destructive and excessive vocalization (crying and barking) can be clues pointing to anxiety in your pet. Noting these and addressing to the underlying issues can help reduce anxiety for you and your pet in the home.

Why pets can sometimes become anxious at home

Fear and anxiety are reactions to new situations and the anticipation of future dangers. Most anxieties develop around the age of social maturity, 12 – 36 months, and some causes for anxiety can be prevented with changes to your own behavior. Fear, separation and aging are the three most common causes of anxiety in dogs.

Fear associated anxiety can be brought on by visual stimulus, loud noises or difficult situations. New people, hats and umbrellas, thunder, construction noise and visits to the vet are all common triggers for anxiety in dogs.

Separation anxiety affects around 14% of dogs. Feelings of anxiety can be expressed through toileting indoors, chewing furniture and shoes, or excessive barking.

Age related anxiety is associated with a decline in cognitive function. Dogs can experience a deterioration of memory, perception and awareness as they age, understandably leading to anxiety.

Tips for reducing anxiety in your pets

The first step to addressing your dog’s anxious behavior is to identify the cause. Dogs use body language to communicate. It is important to observe your pet to understand what they are trying to say. Seeming uneasy, excessive licking, pacing, trembling, and shaking can all indicate anxiety.

You may not wish to reach straight for medication to treat your dog’s anxiety once you have identified the causes. Below are five natural remedies for managing anxiety.

Change your own behavior Separation anxiety can be helped with a change to your leaving the house routine. Don’t make a point of showing your dog you’re leaving, don’t jingle keys and don’t sit and cuddle them before you go. Try leaving and re-entering a few times before you actually go, give them a treat before you depart and create a safe space for your dog to go to while you are out. All or some of these may help your dog manage their anxiety and you should tweak these suggestions to suit your dog and personal circumstances.

Soothing sounds Music can calm us, and our pets. Playing calming music while you are out can help relieve anxiety for your dog. Classical isn’t the best choice, dogs prefer reggae and soft rock. Alternately, you can play a CD of music specifically designed for dogs.

Aromatherapy Calming aromas can work wonders on our pets and ease feelings of anxiety. Try rubbing pet friendly oils on your dog’s coat in areas they can’t lick clean or leaving diffused oils in the house to encourage feelings of calm. Calming smells can also work to keep you feeling less nervous about leaving your pooch alone – dogs also pick up on our own feelings of anxiety, which can exacerbate their own stress.

Exercise Getting enough exercise has a huge impact on canine development, not least of all on their mental wellbeing. Stimulated dogs are less likely to display anxious and destructive behaviors, so make sure you’re getting out and exercising them regularly.

Making sure our pets are happy and comfortable leads to a better relationship and happier home. If you are worried that your dog has difficulties with anxiety, implementing some or all of the tips above can help. It can also be beneficial to speak with your vet.

*This article was a guest submission by Elise Morgan. Be sure to follow Elise on Twitter! @elisemthewriter 

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