Is your dog anxious? Here are 10 signs

Dog Anxious: You probably haven’t even had to think too long about your dog’s emotions if, like me, you are a dog person who is hardcore. Right? When you see it crying, getting sulky when it cannot have extra meat, getting restless after spending endless lone hours on its own, and even getting scared like a baby, you have seen it cry. You probably know that dogs get anxious sometimes, but did you know they also get anxious at times? Dogs indeed suffer from anxiety just like people do from time to time. In turn, this may lead to them being ill-tempered and moody at times. I can understand that you might have a little worry on your part, but don’t let this make you feel pathetic. It is possible to prevent anxiety from making you feel depressed if you know what to look for. You need to pay close attention to your dog’s day-to-day activities and watch out for these 10 signals to determine whether your pet is anxious or not.

Restlessness

My dog paces constantly because he is anxious. This animal may suddenly lie down, wobble around for a few minutes, then get up again and start pacing again. An individual might overlook such behavior on the basis that it could just be a leisurely activity. something you do on a leisurely basis. But that might not be the case in all circumstances. Your pet might be trying to tell you something important. If you do not pay heed to such behavior, you might be risking your dog’s health. Spend some time thinking- if she is doing this for the first time or has been regularly doing so. If she does it regularly, then know for sure, there is a nagging, persistent reason behind this that needs to be addressed immediately. In both cases, taking prompt action is the best thing you can do.

The huffs and puffs

It is not uncommon to spot a dog huffing and puffing with its tongue jutted out. But ‘stress breathing’ is a completely different concept. It could be, at times, bothering the owner as well. But before you panic, you should determine whether the issue is serious or something you can ignore. If your dog has just been home from a long walk, it’s not unnatural for her to breathe heavily. What is unnatural, though, is if your dog is panting out of no obvious cause. Panting due to reasons unknown could be a telltale sign that your dog is anxious. As the guardian of the dog, it is your responsibility to take her to a vet for urgent medical attention. Consultation with the doc should help you pinpoint things that could be bothering her.

Hiding

It appears that your dog has gone missing. Despite hunting through the whole apartment, you have been unable to find any sign of the dog. After asking your neighbors, you have not been able to find any sign of the dog. After a long day of work, you get home only to find out that your dog has curled up into a ball and is lying under your car in your garage. What an awful experience, isn’t it? The experience is one that most dog owners must have had at least once in the course of their lives. When dogs are scolded or made to feel guilty by humans, they will find a hiding place for themselves to retreat to when they are blamed. Nonetheless, if that hiding spot becomes your dog’s second kennel and she begins to enjoy it more than every other thing she enjoyed earlier, your dog is likely feeling anxious. When dogs feel anxious, they often hide for safety. The best thing you can do is to figure out what’s bothering your dog and to love her even more than before.

Accidents

A subject of concern is if the stance of your muscular, strong dog that has always stood firm when he walks begins to waver, allowing accidents to occur. Generally speaking, dogs are so well balanced that they barely fall when they hit a pole. Do not take your dog’s recent behavior as just another accident if it has happened to your dog recently. There may be deeper underlying reasons for your dog’s behavior. A possible reason for this can be anxiety. Dogs that experience anxiety becomes physically and mentally unstable. Over time, they become overly confused and clueless, which eventually manifests itself in everything they do. Thus, their day-to-day activities are affected as a result. There is no doubt that an overly anxious dog, no matter how well trained she may be, may urinate or move her bowels inside the house. You must treat her with affection, not anger.

Sick eyes

In my opinion, a dog’s sharp, focused gaze is one of those qualities that define the breed. As expressive as the eyes of a human being are, the eyes of a dog are also very expressive. It doesn’t matter if they are happy or sad or guilty, you can see it written on their faces in their eyes. Therefore, if you notice that the eyes of your dog have started drooping, it is a matter of concern. The whites of the dog’s eyes are more visible when she is anxious, which means she has half-moon eyes, which means that she has more visible whites than usual. The appearance of half-moon eyes is also known as whale eyes and is an indicator of the dog’s illness. However, half-moon eyes can also occur when the dog is afraid, nervous, or anxious. You should visit your veterinarian to rule out any other underlying health issues. The most important thing to do in such a situation is to make her feel loved and cared for.

Too much Yawning

The dog would yawn and would say, “Enough!” if a dog had a voice. I am running out of patience.” Dogs generally express their boredom and impatience through yawning. During a training session, for instance, if she is yawning to indicate that she is exhausted, then the instructor would know that she is tired. Depending on the severity of the situation, either the instructor will reduce the intensity of the training or give her a break from it. A yawn can also be an indication of nervousness. Imagine, for instance, that you and your dog are waiting for your vet in his clinic as a part of a queue. You may have noticed that she is yawning repeatedly and that she is restless. This is nothing more than her usual nervousness. Yawning can, however, become a very serious problem when it becomes a recurring activity that occurs without reason. It is therefore important to take your dog’s yawning seriously.

Too much barking

In this day and age, people get irritated when there is a dog in the neighborhood who seems to know nothing but to bark at every passing car. Even the owners pretend that they know the reason for their dog’s excessive barking. It is a behavior that is generally considered to be normal by them. Most of them do not understand that dogs who bark more could be anxious in some way. It is an attempt to convey to their owners that they are unhappy about something by repeatedly barking at them. In this case, the owners are required to carry out some research to find out what it is. In a situation of anxiety, if it is not treated right away, dogs can be very fearful, to the point that even the slightest movement around can cause them to become extremely frightened. With a bit of training, love, and attention, excessive barking can, however, be curbed. In general, if your dog barks a lot at night, you might want to keep her inside to avoid unnecessary noise.

Tongue Flicks

If your dog does not have a toy hanging over her head or food served in front of her, it is not likely that she will lick her lips or nose. However, there are other situations as well when you may notice that a dog will flick her tongue around, for example, when the owner returns home or when she is self-bathing. There are other instances of a dog flicking its tongue and such instances should be taken very seriously as they could be warning signs of a more serious problem. It is up to you to watch out for possible reasons as to why her tongue might flick. As an example, your dog might not be comfortable with certain objects in your house, or she may find certain sights frightening, or she may dislike certain people. As soon as you determine the problem, you can take steps to fix the issue. You can also take your dog to the veterinarian if needed.

Full Body Shake

You must have noticed your dog shaking the water off her body after you have bathed her. Likely, you have also seen other dogs doing the same thing that you did for the same reasons. If that is the case, should you get alarmed? It is alarming if the shakes are frequent and they do not drain your body of water. There have also been reports of dogs shaking when they are stressed. If you ignore such an act thinking that it could be a game, you will be making a mistake. A dog showing this behavior could indicate that your dog is worried about something. I think it’s great that you have been able to figure out the root of the concern behind her worry. However, if you haven’t, then I recommend that you seek the assistance of a medical practitioner. Shaking the body from time to time could be a sign that the dog is suffering from something more serious than anxiety.

Sudden lethargy

There is one thing that every dog owner needs to realize when he or she becomes the owner of a dog, and that is not every dog is created equal. Each dog is unique and will react to situations in its way based on its genetic makeup and how it is raised. Dogs can sometimes become very barky, restless, and unstable when they are anxious, whereas others prefer to remain silent when they are anxious. It can be quite concerning to have a timid dog that would rather let burglars in than try to raise a few big barks. Maybe there is just something wrong with the dog. Dogs are by nature protective animals. Even if they have to lay their lives on the line to protect their master, they will do so for the sake of the master. As a result, lethargy and slowness in your dog may be an indication of sickness. You may notice that your dog has been active for the most part and has become lazier recently; this could indicate that she is suffering from anxiety.

Other dog stress symptoms

There can also be some other signs of stress in dogs that are either considered less common or are more specific to certain circumstances. You might see them avoid or isolate, lick their mouths or noses, yawn, itch, scratch, drool excessively, or act aggressively if they are experiencing such symptoms. In addition to these symptoms, there may also be others that are specific to your dog. So, the best way to know what they are is to watch them and understand them!

How to help a stressed dog

When your dog shows any of these signs, it can be a sign that he or she is feeling stressed. There are a few things you can do to help!

• Playing fetch or going for a walk with your dog regularly is the perfect way to relieve some of his stress. The benefits of exercising before a stressful event can also be great for making the individual feel more relaxed and less hyperactive.
• If you want to help your child feel safe – No matter what reason there is for their stress, create an area where they will feel relaxed, such as their bed area. Additionally, if you can, you might be able to stay with them during these turbulent times (such as during a loud fireworks display).
• Diet – What people consume can have an impact on their health, even if it may seem unrelated. The wellbeing and mood of your dog can be affected if they are not getting enough of something or are lacking vital nutrients.
• Stress supplements for pets – If you give your dog a natural supplement designed to help them cope with stress, they will probably feel calmer and less anxious. Most of these supplements contain relaxing ingredients such as chamomile and B vitamins.
• The best way to keep your nervous dog happy is to keep them distracted. This is a great way to keep them calm but not stressed out. To accomplish this, you can play comforting music to block out any noise and leave them with fun toys that will help occupy their minds and keep them interested in something else.

In conclusion

The importance of body language in human communication is secondary to the importance of verbal communication. However, dogs, who –to everybody’s disappointment – are yet to form sentences, rely on body language cues to communicate with one another. Learn to read their body language so that you can communicate with them. This will lead to a stronger bond between you and them.