Do you suspect your dog might be dealing with anxiety to some degree? They are certainly not alone.
According to a recent study, experts believe that about 70% of dogs will show signs of anxiety at some point during their lives. Some will only experience mild dog anxiety, but others could require anxiety meds for dogs or even pet CBD to help them calm down.
Want to know how to help a dog with anxiety? The first thing you can do is learn about the signs of anxiety in dogs. It’s important for you to be able to spot signs of dog anxiety so that you can provide your dog with the relief that they need.
From there, you can then take steps to lower your dog’s anxiety levels. It’ll give your dog a chance to lead a happier and more fulfilling life.
Here are seven signs of anxiety in dogs as well as some tips on how you can help your dog manage anxiety moving forward.
1. Your Dog Often Barks for No Good Reason
It’s not uncommon for some dogs to bark when they see another dog walking by their house or when they hear a weird sound inside their house. But when a dog has anxiety, they’ll often bark for no reason at all in an effort to soothe whatever anxiety they might be feeling.
If your dog does this, you might want to attempt to distract them from barking by using noise to your advantage. You can provide the perfect distraction for an anxious dog by turning on a radio in your home and leaving it on all the time.
2. Your Dog Chews Almost Anything They Can Get Their Paws On
When a dog has anxiety, they have all kinds of nervous energy built up inside their bodies. They’ll do just about anything to release it, and one of the most effective ways for them to do it is by chewing on things.
Unfortunately, that can sometimes lead to dogs chewing on things that they’re not supposed to chew, like furniture. This can be very frustrating to dog owners who have spent a lot of time training their dogs not to bite on these types of things.
If your dog is chewing on everything in sight these days, you should provide them with more bones and chew toys. You should also consider giving something like CBD for dogs or dog anxiety medication a try. It could very well calm them down and stop them from chewing on things they’re not supposed to chew on.
3. Your Dog Spends an Inordinate Amount of Time Pacing Around Your House
There are some instances in which your dog might pace around your house because they’re bored. It’s a good way for them to keep themselves entertained throughout the day.
But if your dog is constantly pacing around for no reason, it might be one of the signs of anxiety in dogs. You can help to clear up some of this anxiety by taking your dog outside more and encouraging them to get exercise. It’ll let them blow off steam and eliminate some of their anxiety.
4. Your Dog Yawns All the Time Even Though They’re Getting Plenty of Sleep
Dogs need a lot of sleep. The average dog can sleep for up to 14 hours in a single day.
If it seems like your dog is yawning every time you look at them nowadays, it could be a sign that they’re not sleeping as much as they should be. But it could also be another one of the signs of anxiety in dogs.
Many dogs yawn when they’re feeling stressed out and anxious. You should speak to your veterinarian if you spot your dog yawning way more often than you think they should.
5. Your Dog Thumps Their Tail as Opposed to Wagging It
When your dog wags their tail after seeing you arrive home from work after a long day, it’s a sign that they’re happy. In this case, their tail will wag very fast as they greet you at the front door.
But when your dog thumps their tail very slowly at any other time of the day, they’re not typically trying to express the same emotion. Instead, they’re demonstrating that they might be anxious for one reason or another.
It’ll be important for you to pay close attention to your dog’s tail thumping and for you to create a more relaxing environment for them so that they don’t feel so stressed all the time. This should help to clear up their anxiety over time.
6. Your Dog Scratches Themselves More Than Usual
It’s not out of the ordinary for dogs to scratch themselves every so often. A dog is able to get rid of an itch by lifting a leg up and giving themselves a good, long scratch.
However, you should be concerned about your dog scratching if they seem to be doing it more than usual lately. You should be especially worried if they do it out in public. This could be a surefire sign that your dog is anxious and might need to start taking anxiety meds for dogs.
7. Your Dog Attempts to Escape From Your Yard on a Regular Basis
Every now and then, your dog might try to escape from your yard to chase a squirrel or rabbit. This isn’t something you’ll need to get too up in arms about.
But you might want to investigate further if you see your dog trying to escape from your yard by any means necessary on a regular basis. You might also want to make sure that you don’t leave them in the yard by themselves just in case they are able to find a way to get out of it.
Your dog may be dealing with separation anxiety if they attempt to make a break for it every time you let them out into your yard. It’ll be your job to make them feel less anxious so that they don’t put themselves into harm’s way by leaving your property.
Keep an Eye Out for Signs of Anxiety in Dogs
Since dogs can’t speak to their owners and tell them that they’re anxious, there are many dog owners who miss all the signs of anxiety in dogs. Their dogs are forced to suffer in silence for months and even years on end as a result.
Make it a point to look out for the signs of anxiety in dogs that we’ve talked about here. It could make all the difference in the world when it comes to limiting your dog’s stress levels.
Check out the rest of our blog for more information on using CBD for dogs.
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