Anxiety in Dogs

Do you think your dog suffers from anxiety? It’s not always clear why dogs are anxious. But for some, it can be triggered by something in particular, such as a thunderstorm or being on their own. Others may have ongoing anxiety issues due to a previous trauma, for example. 

As dogs can’t verbalize their feelings, anxiety can often go undiagnosed. So, you need to know what body language and behaviors to look out for. 

In this guide to anxiety in dogs, you’ll discover: 

• Dog anxiety is often due to fear triggered by a perceived threat. 
• Just like humans, all dogs can feel anxious from time to time. 
• There are different types of anxiety, including separation anxiety and social anxiety. 
• You can get anxiety meds for dogs — but they’re only used in extreme cases. 

My dog has anxiety, is this normal?

Like humans, dogs can develop anxiety — and it's more common than you might think. According to the Merck Veterinary Manual, approximately 1 in 7 dogs has some degree of separation anxiety.

But studies suggest generalized anxiety may be even more common than that. A 2020 study on the prevalence of anxiety found that 72% of more than 13,000 dogs demonstrated anxiety-associated behaviors, like apprehension, poor attention span and reactivity, and even obsessive behaviors such as compulsive grooming.

Types of anxiety 

There can be many reasons that a dog feels anxious, a few of those include: 

Environmental changes: Dogs that show anxiety during storms may be responding to the static electricity and barometric changes in the air rather than the sound. In those cases, storm jackets, or even anti-static treatments formulated for a dog’s fur, may be helpful in reducing anxiety. 

Separation: Separation anxiety in dogs is characterized by frantic destructive behavior, loud and excessive vocalizations, and accidents in the house when the person the animal is most bonded to leaves their environment. 

Isolation: Isolation anxiety is very similar to separation anxiety with one main difference: instead of fearing their humans' absence, the dog fears being totally alone.

Social: Social anxiety can take the form of anxiety with other dogs, anxiety with humans, or a combination of both. This can be expressed by either extremely submissive behavior or irritable and aggressive behaviors.

Travel: Many canines experience the same motion induced nausea that some humans do. Other dogs may simply be nervous due to the fear of the unknown or past negative associations; particularly for dogs that travel infrequently or only to places that they may consider unpleasant, like the veterinarian's office or groomers.

We’ve got some tips on calming your dog on a road trip here.

Confinement anxiety: Anxiety that results from being confined in a small space. This might mean your dog has crate anxiety, for example. 

Noise: This is a very common instigator of anxiety in canines, particularly the sounds of fireworks, vacuum cleaners, or of thunder. Noise anxiety is a common component to PTSD in dogs. 

PTSD in dogs: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) isn't technically a type of anxiety — however, anxiety is a primary symptom. PTSD can develop after a dog experiences a traumatic event. This condition is extremely common in dogs with a history of abuse, but it can also result from car accidents, animal attacks, house fires, or police work.

Generalized anxiety: This form of anxiety doesn't always have a clear cause, but dogs with generalized anxiety may present symptoms regardless of the situation.

Panic attacks: Panic attacks may occur as a result of confinement, separation, travel or noise-related anxiety. Panic attacks in dogs are similar to those in humans; common symptoms are a rapid heartbeat, breathing changes and shaking.

All dogs may feel anxious from time to time, but if your dog has severe anxiety then you may need to consider different treatment options that may include long-term medication. Compare the best pet insurance plans so you  have peace of mind that you are covered should you need this. 

Dog anxiety symptoms may differ between animals and be dependent on the reasons and situations surrounding their anxiety. 

But, whichever symptoms they display, anxiety is typically communicated through the canine’s facial expressions, body posture, and behavior.

Some of the signs of anxiety in dogs, include: 

• Aggressive chewing
• Cowering
• Hiding
• Ears held back
• Escape behaviors
• Exaggerated yawning
• Excessive vocalizations
• Frantic tail chasing
• Accidents in the house 
• Irritability
• Licking nose or face (with no food present)
• Lip tension
• Pacing
• Panting
• Showing the whites of the eye
• Submissive rolling over
• Tail tucked under
• Timidity
• Trembling
• Vomiting
• Whites of the eye turning red

How to know if you’re making a dog feel anxious  

Our dogs can’t speak to us and tell us what they do and don’t want. As anxiety is demonstrated through behavior and body language, we need to be aware when certain actions could make  a dog feel anxious. 

Belly rubs: There are multiple reasons that a dog may roll on their back. They may want belly rubs, playtime, or they may actually be afraid and trying to appease you. A dog that is afraid will hold itself close, often tucking its tail between its legs, whereas a happy dog who wants its belly scratched will generally have a loose and relaxed appearance. 

Hugging: Most dogs don’t particularly like being hugged. It’s not a natural behavior for dogs, and it limits their ability to move away from danger. Although snuggling with a favorite human is often an enjoyable experience for both human and animal, the act of wrapping your arms around the neck or body of a canine may be interpreted as an aggressive act.

Even dogs that tolerate this behavior frequently show signs of distress. 

Petting: Dogs typically enjoy being petted in one form or another. This activity frequently encourages the production of oxytocin, the hormone most responsible for feelings of bonding. For many dogs, certain types of petting may seem more threatening than soothing, and some dogs may not like being touched much at all.

If the dog you’re petting turns its head away from you or moves away, licks their lips or nose, yawns, or holds their ears back or laid flat, there is a good chance that the dog is not enjoying their interaction.

The reasons some dogs feel anxious more regularly than others can be due to: 

• Not being socialized when they were young 
• Their breed — some are more likely to be anxious than others 
• An incredibly traumatic or stressful event
• An illness or medical condition 
• Degeneration in the brain as they get older 

It’s also worth noting that our dogs are sensitive to our mood, so if you’re anxious this can rub off on them. 

If your dog starts exhibiting symptoms that could be anxiety, you should document them in as much detail as possible. Make a journal specifically for your dog's behavior. Record the nature of your dog's symptoms, when and where they occurred, and events that may have triggered them. You could also film your pet when you believe they are showing signs of anxiety to show this to your vet, too. 

Not only can this help you see if their behavior is getting worse, it can also help you avoid your dog's triggers. Plus, it can be essential for getting an accurate diagnosis from your vet. 

During the visit to the vet, they’re likely to examine your dog's physical health to rule out pain or underlying conditions as the cause of their abnormal behavior.

If they diagnose anxiety but believe it to be mild, they’ll probably send you home with some tips for managing their symptoms. For moderate or severe anxiety, they may refer you to an animal behaviorist or prescribe your pet anti-anxiety medications. 

When to worry about anxiety in dogs

You may be wondering, ‘what can I give my dog for anxiety?’ Well, the relevant dog anxiety treatment will depend on the severity of the anxiety, the type of anxiety being displayed, and the frequency of the reaction. 

How to help a dog with anxiety 

If a dog shows signs of distress during a new situation, such as the first thunderstorm or car ride, your instinct will be to comfort them. But this may lead them to believe that their fear is valid, rather than alleviating it. Instead, in new but unthreatening situations, it’s better to distract them. Likewise, with separation anxiety, you don’t want to make a big deal out of leaving and returning home — as much as you’ll want to. 

If you know certain situations make your dog anxious and are aware of the symptoms to look out for you can help reduce, prevent or manage their anxiety.

To calm your dog when they’re feeling anxious, you can try speaking to them in a calm and low voice. You could play music designed to reduce stress for dogs. It can also help to give your dog mental and physical stimulation — such as a long walk or puzzle toys — as exercise helps to release chemicals that reduce the stress hormone. 

There are products you can buy, such as an anti-anxiety dog bed, which is specifically designed to have a calming effect and reduce anxiety. This can be put in a safe space they can retreat to. You could also get calming pheromones, such as diffusers, for use in the home. An anxiety wrap such as a ThunderShirt has a constant gentle pressure that will help anxious dogs especially during fireworks. 

Read more tips to reduce your dog’s anxiety here.

Training to help dogs with anxiety

Dogs that have developed recurring anxious behaviors, such as social anxiety, fear of noises, or moderate separation anxiety, will require behavioral training. This may take time but it often results in a happier, more confident dog. Your vet may also recommend herbal supplements for use alongside this. 

Training helps to build a dog’s confidence and remove fear that can cause anxiety. This can include:

• Basic obedience training: can help distract a dog
• Socialization: reduce your pup’s reactivity to new people, places and situations
• Desensitization: exposure to certain stressors, starting at a low level and progressing higher to reduce fear 
• Counter conditioning: replaces negative triggers with positive results and rewards to create a new emotional response to stressors

Looking for dog training support? Use Wag! to find a dog trainer near you and start specialized training sessions today.

Best anxiety meds for dogs

In the most extreme cases, medication may be required to calm your companion’s nerves. This most often takes the form of anti-anxiety or antidepressant medications such as buspirone and fluoxetine. It’s important to note that anxiety pills for dogs aren’t an instant cure and it may take several weeks for you to see a difference in their behavior. 

Another anxiety medication for dogs is oromucosal gel that is administered just before or during the inciting event. This is because it works in just 30 minutes and lasts from two to three hours.

Your dog’s recovery will depend on how severe their anxiety is. But, either way it’s going to take time and patience. It may be that the treatment or training is long-term — or you always need to be prepared for whatever their trigger may be. 

But, it’s also important to remember that there is always support out there so you’re not alone. Pet therapists and behaviorists will be able to help you. 

If your dog is showing signs of anxiety then this will be stressful for you too. The last thing you want to be thinking about is the cost of treatment on top of this. Compare pet insurance and browse wellness plans today and you’ll have peace of mind that you’ll be covered.