Dogs and cats are at risk for anxiety, but unlike humans, they can’t explain what they’re feeling anxious about. As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to understand and recognize warning signs of anxiety in your pet and determine what is causing their stress. Then you can reduce or eliminate the stressor. Here are some great tips for recognizing and managing anxiety in pets.
Generalized Anxiety
Generalized anxiety doesn’t necessarily have one specific trigger. It could occur as a response to an environmental stimuli that you aren’t even aware of. You can try to reduce the risk of general anxiety in pets by making sure they get enough exercise and play time. This will distract them from environmental stressors and tire them out. You can also ask your veterinarian to recommend anti-anxiety medication or pheromones that calm pets’ nerves and help them relax.
Arrival & Departure Anxiety
Some pets have a lot of anxiety surrounding arrivals and departures from the home. If your pet has separation anxiety, try not to draw a lot of attention to you leaving the house. Downplay the act of leaving and the act of coming home so your pet doesn’t associate sadness with your departure and happiness with your arrival. You can also reduce their anxiety around other people coming into the home by distracting them during the other person’s arrival and giving them time and space to acclimate to a new person being in the house.
Crating or Barricades
A lot of people use crates or barricades to keep their pet contained when they’re not home. For some pets, crates are actually calming because they feel like they have more control over their environment, they’re safe, and it’s like being in a cozy, warm cave. Other animals might hate being confined. If your pet isn’t prone to chewing, biting, whining, or other destructive behaviors, you might expand their freedom when you’re not home. Otherwise, make sure they have access to toys and enrichment items while you’re gone, along with fresh water.
Anxiety can lead to behavioral problems and health issues, so it’s important to consult your veterinarian to manage your pet’s anxiety.