Table of Contents
Overview | Symptoms | Diagnosing | Treatment
Summary:
Recognizing anxiety symptoms in dogs and treating the symptoms properly is important as anxiety can not only interfere with a dog’s emotional health but can also affect their physical health.
When a dog perceives a threat, the hypothalamus, a section of brain tissues, signals the production of certain chemicals to prepare the dog for fight or flight. This is good when there is an actual threat, but in dogs with chronic anxiety, it causes problems such as depression. The chemicals begin to weaken the immune system and can lead to heart disease.
There are two types of anxiety. Phobias where there is a reaction to something such as thunder or fireworks and others where the cause cannot be identified.
Where there is anxiety symptom in dog often more than one anxiety exists such as a phobia for noise or thunderstorms.
Anxiety Symptom in Dogs
Anxiety symptoms in dog may include:
- barking
- pacing
- licking excessively
- urinating or defecating in the house
During times of acute distress (such as thunderstorms or fireworks, for example), your pet may also hide under the couch or under the bed.
Diagnosing Anxiety Symptom in Dog
Your veterinarian will evaluate your dogs behavior and run tests to check things such as heart rate, digestion and frequency of urination (frequent urination could be an emotional problem). A blood test will be used to see if there are unusual levels of certain types of white blood cells associated with anxiety.
Treating Anxiety Symptom in Dog
The first step in dealing with an anxious dog to look at the environment. Dogs do not deal well with change. In times of domestic stress (such as divorce, introducing a new family member, etc.), your dog may begin to show signs of anxiety. Giving your dog extra attention during this time can help.
Maintaining a regular schedule of feeding, walking, and playtime will also help. If this does not seem to do the trick, it’s time to talk to your vet about anti-anxiety medication. Medication may be required for a short period along with the other changes you make.
Some dogs simply have a nervous disposition. Dogs can have anxiety disorders just like people can. These dogs may require long-term anxiety medication, although behavioral and environmental changes should be tried first.
An anti-anxiety drug is designed to be given once a day and to keep your dog calm over-all. It is not designed to be given at a particular time when your dog becomes overly anxious or excited. The best thing to do at such times is to speak calmly to your dog in a reassuring but firm voice. Keep your hand on your dog, providing your dog does not become aggressive. Some dogs may become aggressive and try to bite. If possible, remove the dog from the anxiety-provoking situation. Above all, remain calm yourself, because your dog will take cues from your behavior.
It should be noted that “working dogs” such as Seeing Eye dogs should not be given anti-anxiety medication, because it may be too sedating for them to be able to do their job correctly. A dog that is exceedingly anxious will not make a good guide dog.
Dogs that compete at shows should have generally calm dispositions, as well. However, the competitive environment can cause some stress for your dog. Use your calm voice and keep your hand on you dog. Dogs with high levels of anxiety will not do well in a competitive environment.
Anxiety and Fear of Thunderstorms
One common source of anxiety are dogs that are scared of thunder. While many owners don't want to rely on medications for this problem and the issue with thunder is that you do not know when it is coming. Once the storm starts it is too late for most medications to become effective.
There is a new dog thunderstorm anxiety medication called Sileo (dexmedetomidine) that works immediately. It is given administered to your dog's gums. For frequent storms you can try a specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment which takes a month to reach full effect, but will help to reduce fear. When you hear a storm prediction, a Valium-like drug such as lorazepam can be given. It takes less than an hour to take effect, but it willn ot help if your dog is already frightened when you give it.
There are some behavior modification approaches, such as playing a recording at low volume that consists of music and some thunder and rain sounds. You can also try a Thundershirt that may calm your dog by hugging her.
Anti Anxiety Dog Drug
Anxiety drugs are usually prescribed to provide fast improvement in behavior. One reason is that problems often develop over time with the owner only seeking treatment when the problem is more severe.
Two types of drugs are usually prescribed; psychotropic drugs and pheromones. Drugs tend to work by either changing the levels of serotonin (SSRIs clomipramine and the on-coming fluoxetine) or by affecting the levels of dopaminergic activity (dopamine controls the way neurons in the brain speak to each other).
The drug chosen will be based on the level of prolactin (PRL)in the blood. Anxious dogs showing a normal PRL value are significantly improved when treated with SSRIs (seratonin) when those showing a high PRL value are much sensitive to selegiline and worsened when treated with fluoxetine.
The pheromones DAP in dogs has helped in conjunction with therapy to change behavior such as changing the dog's environment, training and approaches that encourage relaxation.
Sources
How to Deal with Anxiety and Stress Responses: Dogs
Overall, Karen
Separation Anxiety
Hillestad, Katherine DVM
Diagnosis and Treatment of Anxiety Disorders
P. Pageat
Pherosynthese Research Centre, France.
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