stress in dogs

There’s stress all around us: Whether it be work, school, health, family or financial…there’s no way to avoid it. Stress affects not only us but our 4-legged family members also.  We know how it makes us feel, so we certainly want to help alleviate our pet’s stress. Some signs of their stress and anxiety are subtle and some are very obvious, so knowing the signs to look for is the first step to helping them.  Here’s a little information on some of the signs to look for with your dog:

• Barking or Whining: While these are normal ways of expressing themselves, it may also be a sign they are tense or afraid of something. They may be trying to get your attention to let you know about something or they’re trying to make themselves feel better.
• Increased yawning: While dogs do yawn when they are bored or tired, they also yawn when they are stressed. The stressed yawn is longer and more frequent, so keep an eye out for this sign.
• Shedding, shaking & pacing: Have you noticed how much more your dog sheds when taking them to your vet’s office? This is another sign of feeling anxious or stressed.  While it’s often normal that your dog may do the full body shake after rolling around in the grass or a bath, it could also be because of a situation that has made them feel stressed.
• Panting for no reason: It’s normal for a dog to pant after a nice long walk or hike, when they are excited about something or when it’s hot outside… but if none of that applies and they are panting, this is another sign of stress or anxiety.
• Tucked tail, pinned back ears, and change in eyes: When scared or stressed, dogs often tuck their tails, and ears that are usually relaxed become pinned back against the head. Often their pupils might be slightly more dilated, or they open their eyes wider, showing more of the white.
• Eating more (or less) than usual.
• Changes in their bathroom habits, having a hard time going to the bathroom, diarrhea, or loose stool.

So, how can we help them to handle the stress? First of all, try to identify and remove them from the stressful situation and give them some comfort to help calm them down.  Don’t overly comfort them, as you don’t want to justify their fears making their reaction the norm.  Give them some mental stimulation to get their mind off whatever’s bothering them. It’s always a good idea to have a safe space for them with their bed, blanket, or favorite toy so they can escape to that place and relax when needed. It also helps to have calming background music on to help them relax. I leave music on all day for my pets, and I think it helps them to be more relaxed.

And remember dogs sense our emotions so try to stay calm and relaxed around them. If you’re stressed out why not sit down with your dog and talk to it, play with it, or pet it and you’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll both feel. Physical exercise is a great stress reliever too, so why not take your pup out for a walk. It’s a “win win” for both of you!

Our dogs aren’t the only ones who feel stress! Our furry felines can suffer as well. They display signs of stress through changes in them physically and behaviorally. Some of these signs include:

• Diarrhea, vomiting, runny nose and eyes.
• Eating and/or drinking more or less than usual.
• Sleeping more than usual and looking lethargic.
• Going to the bathroom outside of the litter box.
• Excessive scratching of furniture or scratching post.
• Aggressive behavior directed at you, your family or other pets in the home.
• Meowing more than usual.
• Hiding and/or withdrawing from family interaction OR needing more attention than usual.
• Frequent head shaking, crouching, and looking tense or staring with a glazed expression.

Just like with dogs, it’s important to try to identify the cause of stress as many of these symptoms of stress can turn into serious medical problems or illness. Cats, as we know, can be very finicky and are used to things a certain way and are basically creatures of habit. So, any disruption to their norm can be a cause of stress. Things like bringing in a new pet or baby, changing the furniture or rearranging it, new people visiting your home or even a change in your daily routine can be upsetting to them.

There are a number of over the counter calming treatments for both dogs and cats which may help alleviate their stress but before starting anything, the first thing to do is schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to make sure there aren’t underlying medical issues causing the change in their behavior/personalities.

Making sure our pets are happy and healthy will help them live long lives filling ours with the joy and love only our pets can provide. QCBN

By Loree Mae Walden

By Loree Mae Walden, marketing director for Yavapai Humane Society.