As a pet owner, you need to know that your dog may also feel emotions, just like humans. However, unlike you, they cannot express it freely. They have specific ways to show what they feel, so you need to understand their clues in order to help them. One of the things you should watch out for is when they’re feeling anxious because that feeling can affect their health and behavior.
In this article, we will discuss how you can know if your dog is feeling anxious and what are the things you can do to help them overcome the feeling.
How Can You Know If Your Dog Has Anxiety?
Anxiety in dogs is a lot similar to anxiety in people. They can feel anxious when they experience a traumatic event, lack of socialization, illness, pain, overheating, or separation from their owner. The most common signs of anxiety in dogs are shivering, door dashing, not eating, frequently urinating, whining, restlessness, and escaping. But, some signs can be tricky because they are not so apparent. If your dog often manifests these signs, be wary because it may be feeling anxious:
- Frequent yawning with lip-licking and panting
- Excessive and hard licking
- If you see the whites in your dog’s eyes (whale eyes)
- Stress panting
- Disconnecting from you, another dog, or a group situation
If you’ve noticed these signs aside from the common signs, immediately help your dog feel better.
How Can You Help Them Feel Better When They’re Feeling Anxious?
Since dogs cannot talk, and they cannot tell you if they’re feeling a little anxious, it’s your responsibility to understand their clues. Once you realize that they are showing signs of anxiety, here are the things you can do to make them feel better:
- Make Yourself Calm – Truly, a dog is a man’s best friend. If you’re feeling stressed or upset, they feel it too, so they end up feeling anxious. As much as possible, calm yourself and make them feel that you are okay, so they don’t have to worry. Also, avoid yelling because that will make them feel more anxious.
- Give Your Dog a Safe Space – Providing them with a safe space is an excellent way to combat anxiety. Make them a kennel and put a blanket inside. Whenever your dog feels anxious, calmly direct it to go to that space so that it can feel better.
- Find What’s Causing Their Anxiety – While some dogs are naturally high strung, some are feeling anxious because there’s something that’s triggering them. Try to look for the cause and do something about it to make your dog feel better. It may be because of a sound, situation, or any other thing. Do everything to find it so that you can minimize or eliminate it.
Conclusion
Understanding your dog’s feelings is crucial because that will be your first step to making them feel better. Remember, you must not ignore the signs of anxiety in dogs because they can become aggressive, bark a lot, or even bite, putting your life and the lives of others at risk. At times, they may put their health at risk. Either way, it all boils down to managing your dog’s anxiety, so make sure to help them so that you can have a healthier, happier pup.
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