Anxiety among dogs is quite common, but many owners don’t notice early signs on time. Not giving your canine friend appropriate treatment on time can negatively impact their mental and physical health.
Some early signs are destructive behavior, excessive panting, whining, shaking, drooling too much, or destroying rags and other household items. Dogs get highly anxious when you leave them alone at home, during car travels, or when you take them to relatives’ homes during vacations.
Don’t worry, though, this article will cover some of the best treatments to help your dog’s anxiety so that they can live a happy and stress-free life. You may also try these products to ease dog anxiety, along with the methods discussed here.
What causes anxiety in dogs?
There’s no one major root cause of anxiety in dogs. It can stem from different situations in varying degrees. Let’s look at some major sources :
- Loud Noises: Dogs often get scared when they hear loud noises like fireworks, thunder, or construction work. These sudden sounds can make them feel unsafe. Being left alone can also make dogs very worried – they’re pack animals who love company and don’t understand why their family leaves them sometimes.
- Change in Routine: Even the slightest change in their routine can make dogs anxious and stressed. Moving to a new house, getting a new family member (human or pet), or even changing their walking schedule can make them nervous. Dogs like it when they know what’s gonna happen in their day.
- Past Traumas: Bad experiences from the past can leave lasting fears. If a dog was treated poorly or didn’t meet many people as a puppy, they might be scared of certain situations or people. Even something that seems small to us, like a scary encounter with a vacuum cleaner, or sudden hand movements can make them anxious for a long time.
- Aging: Dogs are playful creatures, but as they get old mobility goes down because of achy joints, diseases, and other underlying health conditions. Also, When dogs don’t feel well or start losing their hearing or sight, the world becomes more frightening for them. You as an owner can provide a lot of comfort by being extra supportive in those days.
Best Anxiety Treatments for Dogs
From different play routines, and medicines to anxiety meds, there are a lot of options to help your dog deal with day-to-day anxiety. All dog Breeds have different natures, anatomy, and behavior so there’s no one perfect individual treatment. You may try following solo or in combination and stick with what works best for your furball.
CBD in Diet
You can buy pet-specific CBD products to help ease your dog’s anxiety. It’s one of the most tried, tested, and effective compounds which is effective for both humans and animals. You can put a few drops in your dog’s mouth directly or add it to their kibbles.
It works by improving the body’s internal endocannabinoid system which is responsible for keeping a balance in the body by modulating various physiological functions. A recent study showed that approximately 83% of participant dogs who were given CBD-infused chews before a stressful event showed a major decline in anxiety and stress-related behaviors.
Behavior Training
Behavior training can help dogs to stay calm in stressful situations. It works by slowly introducing them to what makes them nervous, starting from a safe distance or at a low level. For example, if a dog is scared of strangers, you’d start by having people stand far away, then slowly let them get closer as the dog stays relaxed.
Every time the dog stays calm, they get treats and praise. This teaches them that the scary thing isn’t so bad after all. The key is to move very slowly and never force the dog into situations that make them too scared.
Create A Safe Space
Every anxious dog needs a special place where they can go to feel safe and calm down. This can be a crate with soft blankets, a quiet corner on the side of the owner’s bed, or a spot under a desk.
The important thing is that this space is always available and no one bothers them when they’re there. You can make this space even more comforting by adding things that smell like their favorite people.
Further, you can play soft music and put a few chew toys around. When dogs know they have a safe retreat, they often feel more confident in exploring and dealing with scary situations.
Massage Therapy
A gentle massage using special oils can help dogs to calm down and relax. You can rub their ears, belly, and neck spots using pet-approved calming oils from reputed brands. You may also softly rub and stimulate muscles around your shoulders and back to relieve strain caused by prolonged harness use during travels or long walks.
Some dogs also like deep pressure, for this, you can use a pressure hoodie. It makes them comfy and creates a sensation of someone hugging or holding them with care. Also, take your dog on outdoor adventures. Staying cooped up at home all the time can worsen their anxiety. Fresh air, sunlight, and a good fetch game can do wonders for their mental and physical health.
Our Final Thoughts
To sum it up, you can use CBD oil, behavior training, massage, comfy resting space, and outdoor walks to help your dog with anxiety. There’s no one perfect treatment, but a combination of CBD oil with dinner, followed by a long walk in the morning and a gentle massage in the noon can be a solid combination.
If your dog won’t like the taste of CBD oil, special flavored chews can be a good choice. Give it to them as a reward after good exercise or learning a treat. Make sure to get them only from reputed brands like Colorado Botanicals.
Also, never shout at your pet unnecessarily, this can make them scared and worsen their anxiety symptoms. Instead, try to comfort them, hold them, and speak to them in soft voices.
Also Read: Golden Retriever Breed Information | Are dogs better than cats? | What are the top reasons behind dogs licking their paws?
