Just like people, pets can experience anxiety! Whether it’s from loud noises, unfamiliar situations, or being separated from their favorite humans, anxiety can affect your pets entire well-being.
This May is Pet Anxiety Awareness Month! This means it’s the perfect time to talk about what anxiety looks like in dogs and how you can help your pup feel more at ease.
Signs of Anxiety in Dogs
Dogs can feel anxiety in a variety of ways. It can appear through pacing, trembling, hiding, whining, or even destructive behavior. Some dogs may even refuse to eat or show signs of aggression when they are incredibly stressed and anxious.
How to Support Your Anxious Pet
There are lots of different ways to ease your dog’s anxiety, just like there are a lot of dogs! At Rose City, we recommend Trazodone, a prescription medication that many dogs tolerate well. This medication can help calm their nerves without making them too sleepy or having a massive effect on their personality.
Benadryl is another common over-the-counter option to ease your pet’s anxiety. Bus, it can be difficult to dose correctly, especially since every dog’s needs are different depending on their size and breed. Our clinic typically avoids recommending Benadryl unless we talk through the process of its effects with you.
CBD is another suggestion when it comes to easing your pet’s anxious energy. CBD is growing in popularity for pets, but we are waiting on more peer-reviewed research that supports its safety and effectiveness in pets before recommending it to our patients. Some owners see success with CBS, but until we have stronger evidence, we encourage you to come in and see us before starting your pet on CBD.
Other Ways to Ease Your Pet’s Anxiety
Outside of medication, there are other things you can do to ease the anxiety your pet feels. We have noticed some pet parents love compression vests! It’s possible to purchase vests that apply gentle pressure to help your pet feel secure and calm.
Here are a few other ways to make sure your pet has the lowest anxiety possible.
Keep a Consistent Routine
Pets thrive on predictability! To help ease their anxiety, you should plan to have regular meal times, walks, and bedtime routines to help them feel more calm.
Create a Safe Space
It doesn’t matter if it’s a cozy corner, a quiet room, or their favorite blanket, having a designated place your pet can retreat can provide them with a lot of comfort during stressful moments.
Exercise Your Pet Daily
Making sure your pet is getting enough walks, playtime, and even mental stimulation can help to release their energy and reduce their anxious behaviors.
Incorporate training into daily life
Short, positive training sessions can strengthen your bond with your pet and help your dog focus their energy productively.
One of the best ways to manage your pets anxiety long-term is through desensitization. This training method involves slowly introducing your dog to the source of their anxiety in a low-stress way all while rewarding their calm behavior at every step.
If your dog is afraid of car rides for example, you might help desensitize them by:
- Walking near your care and rewarding them with a treat
- Sitting with them in a parked car
- Taking a short drive around the block and rewarding them after!
Over time, this builds your dog’s confidence and reduces fear by creating positive associations with the trigger.
If your pet is struggling with anxiety – you’re not alone! And, you don’t have to figure it out alone either. Whether you’re curious about medication options, looking for training tips, or wondering if your pet’s behavior is something to worry about, our team at Rose City Veterinary Hospital is here to support you.
Give us a call to schedule an appointment or ask a questions – we’re here to help guide you and your pet towards a calmer, happier life.
