- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
Anxiety can negatively affect a dog’s well-being and your daily life.
A dog’s anxiety can affect how they behave in certain situations. For example, they might have emotional responses like destructive behavior, excessive panting, and whining.
Anxiety is fairly common in dogs. In fact, one large study on behavior problems in dogs found that about 44% of the dogs had problems with fearfulness or anxiety.
For some dogs, anxiety is situation-specific, and training can help manage it. Dogs with severe anxiety may have more persistent symptoms and need ongoing treatment to keep these symptoms from getting worse. Treatment can include environmental changes, training, medication, and treatment for medical conditions contributing to anxiety.
Read on to learn how to spot signs of anxiety in dogs, along with possible causes and options for treatment.
Signs of Anxiety
Signs of dog anxiety include the following:
- Destructive behaviors
- Showing the whites of the eyes, also called whale eyes
- Drooling
- Ears pointing down or back
- Frequent barking
- Licking lips
- Panting
- Shaking
- Whimpering
- Pacing
- Hiding
Stress and anxiety cause similar signs in dogs, according to Dr. Amanda Modes, veterinarian and owner at VetMind and a Resident of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists.
Anxiety refers to a feeling of worry or uneasiness about an expected conflict or threat. Stress is an emotional response to a specific challenge. However, both of these concerns involve similar physical and behavioral characteristics.
What Causes a Dog’s Anxiety?
Anxiety in dogs can have a number of triggers, but the most common causes include fear, separation, and aging.
Fear-based anxiety
Fear can lead a dog dog to avoid situations they perceive as dangerous. When a dog anticipates danger, they may experience anxiety.
Noise sensitivity, the most common fear-based anxiety, affects about 32% of dogs, according to one large study.
Generally, this type of anxiety stems from a lack of experience or knowledge of the fearful trigger. It doesn’t necessarily relate to a history of abuse.
Separation anxiety
Separation anxiety affects 14%-20% of dogs, and it often shows up in dogs who also have fear-based anxiety. Dogs with this condition become anxious when left alone.
Some dogs may develop separation anxiety at an early age without going through a major event. Other dogs may develop separation anxiety later in life due to changes in the home, such as relocating to a new house or a family member moving out.
Age-related anxiety
Aging dogs can experience changes in the body that affect their behavior. For example, older dogs may show a decline in cognitive function, including memory and learning, that can lead to agitation and anxious behaviors.
Genetic or breed traits
Genetic factors associated with specific breeds can contribute to dog anxiety. Certain breeds are more prone to anxiety-related behaviors, including noise sensitivity and separation anxiety.
One study of anxiety-related behaviors found that the most fearful breeds were Spanish Water Dogs, Shetland Sheepdogs, and mixed breeds. About one-tenth of Miniature Schnauzers were fearful of strangers, but almost no Labrador Retrievers showed these traits.
Trauma or lack of socialization
Puppies who didn’t get proper socialization or had traumatic fear periods may become anxious as they get older. Some adolescent dogs who have a severe negative experience can also develop anxiety due to fearful associations.
Common Anxiety Triggers for Dogs
A trigger is any situation that causes an emotional or psychological response. This can include an event, sound, person, place, or object.
Triggers that often cause anxiety in dogs include:
- Sound: Noise phobias are common. For instance, many dogs are afraid of thunderstorms or fireworks.
- Separation: Many dogs experience anxiety when left alone, especially for long periods of time.
- Not enough exercise: Research has linked little to no daily exercise to increased noise sensitivity and separation anxiety.
- Lack of socialization and maternal care: Fearful dogs often lacked socialization and maternal care when they were puppies.
- Gut issues: As the brain and gut are connected, gastrointestinal (GI) issues can affect the brain and lead to anxiety symptoms.
Anxiety Medication for Dogs
Generally, the recommended treatment for dog anxiety involves behavior changes.
In some cases, though, your vet may recommend anxiety medication to help ease your dog’s symptoms. Medication may help dogs who have severe anxiety or continue to have symptoms even with behavioral changes.
Commonly prescribed medications include clomipramine, fluoxetine, and amitriptyline.
At-Home Solutions for Dog Anxiety
Ways to calm a dog’s anxiety at home including physical exercise, mental enrichment, and desensitization. While dogs respond differently to various techniques, Dr. Modes says a combination of treatments usually has the most benefit.
Exercise and mental enrichment
“Physical activity can provide an outlet for energy and promote natural canine behaviors like sniffing and chasing,” Dr. Modes says. “Physical and mental stimulation, such as fetch and puzzle toys, can also promote learning and create a positive outlet for anxious energy.”
Dr. Modes also says physical exercise and mental enrichment can help lower stress hormones like cortisol and reduce symptoms.
Desensitization
“Desensitization is a technique that gradually exposes your dog to a stimulus they find scary or stressful, such as a vacuum or meeting new people,” Dr. Modes says.
Continued exposure over time can help break down the association between the trigger and anxiety response.
Dr. Modes shares the following tips for desensitization:
- Start at a low intensity so your dog doesn’t feel threatened or scared.
- If your dog responds well, slowly increase the intensity and duration of the exposure.
- Pair the stressful stimulus with something positive, like food or playtime.
Management techniques
Management allows you to prevent your dog from being exposed to a stressful trigger, Dr. Modes explains. This can reduce your dog’s fear and anxiety and increase their confidence.
For example, you might play classical music or white noise to drown out the sounds from a thunderstorm.
You can also create a safe and calm environment in a small, quiet room or crate with comfortable bedding and toys to help your dog relax during anxiety-provoking situations.
Stick to a predictable routine
“Maintaining a predictable routine lets your dog know what to expect,” Dr. Modes says. A regular routine can help your dog feel safe and secure in their environment and trust the people they share it with—both of which can help reduce anxiety.
Structured interactions can also have benefit, especially for anxious or fearful dogs. For example, you might ask them to sit before you feed them, brush them, or put their leash on.
Natural products
According to Dr. Modes, natural products might help dogs with mild anxiety, especially as part of a veterinary-prescribed treatment for more anxious or fearful pets.
Just keep in mind that many natural products are considered supplements. This means the FDA doesn’t have to approve them for safety and effectiveness before they go on the market.
Always ask your vet before giving your dog a new product. They can recommend the best product based on your dog’s needs.
When To Get Professional Support
Dogs with fear and anxiety disorders may have more frequent and severe health conditions, including obesity, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular disease.
Anxiety can also decrease a dog’s lifespan, so it’s important to address their symptoms as soon as possible.
Dr. Modes says if your dog’s fear or anxiety is minor, you may be able to make changes at home to reduce exposure and improve your dog’s response to those situations.
It’s best to get support from a vet or dog trainer if your dog’s symptoms:
- Interfere with daily life
- Get worse even after you change the environment and use training methods.
- Lead to safety concerns for them, other pets, or people
- Could relate to an underlying health concern
Can Dog Anxiety Be Prevented?
“Anxiety is likely a combination of a dog’s genetics and early life experiences, and there isn’t a guarantee to prevent it,” Dr. Modes explains.
That said, you can do a lot to reduce your dog’s chances of developing this condition. Helpful steps to take include:
- Provide early socialization and training.
- Maintain regular routines
- Learn to read your dog’s body language
- Use positive reinforcement
- Offer regular exercise
- Play calming music
