Fear and Anxiety Behaviors of Dogs and Cats

Posted on July 22, 2019 by Holly

Just as humans have a range of fears and anxieties – and coping mechanisms to handle them – so do our pets. Dogs and cats experience fear, phobias, and anxiousness towards objects or situations and react with certain behaviors. Consequently, some pets can develop negative, destructive, or aggressive behaviors. Treating problem behavior can be a multi-step process, and often requires time and patience.

Start by Learning

So what do you do if you have a pet that has begun reacting with negative behaviors First, observe your pet’s behavior closely to confirm what triggers the fear or anxiety and what the responses are. How long does the behavior occur? Is there anything that makes it better or worse? This information will be critical if you need to consult with your veterinarian.

Common triggers include:

Loud noises including fireworks, thunderstorms, construction, or street noise
Being home alone
Kenneling, boarding, traveling or moving
Car trips to vet or groomer
New family members
New or other pets in the house
Visitors or social gatherings
Changes to the environment or household
Change in daily routine

If you know what causes your dog or cat to feel fearful, you may plan ahead for these situations. Often, these situations are unavoidable. Dogs and cats can also express phobias to certain objects or situations. For example the vacuum cleaner or bathing. The fear of being home alone or separation anxiety is also common for pets. Next, take time to watch your pet to figure out what triggers them to feel anxious or stressed and what behaviors they express in response to it. Once identified, work with your pet to condition them to the object or situation. Try using training and give positive rewards to modify their behavior. Learn more about behavior modification techniques for dogs and for cats.

For some dogs and cats, these methods alone will not be enough. If you find yourselves in that position, consult with your veterinarian or a professional behaviorist. Some common signs may include but are not limited to:

Signs of Fear and Anxiety In Cats

Hiding
Excessive grooming
Excessive chewing
Going outside litterbox
Vocalization
Spraying
Aggression
Avoidance or isolation

Signs of Fear and Anxiety in Dogs

Panting or trembling
Pacing or restlessness
Cowering or hiding
Freezing
Excessive drooling or lip licking
House Soiling
Destructive or aggressive behavior
Excessive whining or barking

Time to Talk

Reporting behavior problems and concerns to your dog or cat’s veterinarian is important. Different medical conditions may cause changes in behavior. Your veterinarian can rule out any potential health problems. Document your dog or cat’s behavior in detail. Prepare to answer questions regarding frequency, duration, type, and patterns of the behavior. Your veterinarian may recommend training or behavior modification techniques. Supplements or prescription medication may be prescribed in addition to these methods. All treatments should be monitored by your vet.

Featured Treatments

VetRxDirect features a large selection of behavioral health products including over the counter supplements, pheromone products, and prescription medications for both dogs and cats. We’ve highlighted a few of the most popular below.

Solliquin is a nutritional supplement that encourages behavioral health in dogs and cats. Solliquin helps provide a feeling of calm and contentment during stressful events, without the use of sedation. Made with natural ingredients including magnolia and phellodendron extracts, l-theanine from green tea, and whey protein concentrate.

Reconcile, fluoxetine, is a prescription medication for dogs with certain behavior and cognitive disorders. It works by affecting serotonin levels in the brain that may be unbalanced. Reconcile is commonly prescribed to treat separation anxiety in dogs, and help relieve behavioral symptoms.

Feliway contains feline facial pheromones that help calm cats and control negative feline behaviors associated with stress and anxiety. The pheromones have a soothing effect without using tranquilizers or other medications. Feliway is also great for traveling and acclimating cats to new environments. Plug-In room diffuser, travel spray, and wipes allow for multiple applications.

Sileo is a prescription treatment for dogs that suffer from anxiety and behavioral problems caused by noises (noise aversion). It contains the sedative dexmedetomidine at a low dose to help calm dogs down, without heavy sedation, so they can keep fully functional. Sileo is an oral gel labeled to start working in 30-60 min and last 2-3 hours.

Reconcile Helps Treat Canine Separation Anxiety

Posted on July 19, 2018 by Holly

Separation anxiety is a behavior condition that causes dogs to feel anxiety and express problematic behaviors when left alone. It can not only be frustrating to owners but also potentially dangerous for dogs. When dogs are anxious and nervous about being separated from owners, they can act out in ways that can cause physical harm to themselves and their surroundings. Treatment of canine anxiety and phobias can be very complicated and is not a quick-fix. Depending on the severity of the condition, a combination of training methods and medication may be used. Recognizing that your dog has anxiety or fear issues is the first step.

What are the Signs of a Dog with Separation Anxiety?

Excessive drooling
Urinating and/or defecating inside the house
Barking, Howling, or Whining
Scratching at the door, wall, or floor
Pacing
Escaping
Destructive chewing and digging behaviors
Coprophagia

What Causes Separation Anxiety?

Change of Schedule: Similar to humans, dogs are creatures of habit. When that routine and habit cycle is changed abruptly it can cause unease and distress. When or how long a dog is left alone can trigger separation anxiety.

Moving: Moving into a new house, apartment or residence is a common trigger of separation anxiety due to the unfamiliar surroundings.

Change of Family: If your dog comes from a shelter or a previous home, suddenly entering into your family can trigger the development of separation anxiety. This may also be triggered by the sudden absence of a current household member such as moving away, long military deployment or trips, or death.

Mild to moderate cases of separation anxiety may be treated with counterconditioning or desensitization training programs. These techniques often use a wide combination of toys, foods, crate training, short trips away, positive reinforcements, or verbal cues. These training methods take time and patience and may require the assistance of trainer or animal behaviorist to achieve the best results. More severe cases may require medication to effectively treat. It is best to talk to your dog’s veterinarian for the best combination of training and medication.

Reconcile

Reconcile, fluoxetine, is a prescription serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant medication. This chewable tablet works by affecting serotonin levels in the brain that may be unbalanced in dogs with certain behavior and cognitive disorders. Reconcile is prescribed to treat separation anxiety, and help relieve behavioral symptoms when used with training.

Does your dog suffer from separation anxiety? Have you used any training methods to help? Leave us a comment below!

Solliquin For Dogs and Cats With Fear and Anxiety

Posted on December 28, 2017 by Holly

Solliquin Now Available at VetRxDirect

Solliquin is a new supplement designed to encourage normal behavior in dogs and cats with anxiety and fear disorders. Just like us, dogs and cats experience fear and feelings of anxiousness towards objects or situations and react with certain behaviors to handle them. Sometimes we can ease their stress or avoid certain events, but for some pets, it can lead to destructive, negative, or aggressive behaviors.

Solliquin helps produce a feeling of calm and contentment for your dog or cat and works to modify negative behaviors. It uses a blend of natural active ingredients including L-theanine, an amino acid found in green tea, which helps in the production of alpha brain waves. Additionally, it contains magnolia and Phellodendron extracts and whey protein concentrate with 10 essential amino acids. These include the building blocks for glutathione and serotonin production in the brain. Solliquin does not use sedation and comes in tasty chewable.

Common triggers include:

Loud noises from fireworks, thunderstorms, or social gatherings
Being home alone
Kenneling, traveling or moving
New people or pets in the house
Changes to environment or daily routine

If you know what causes your dog or cat to feel fearful, you may plan ahead for these situations. For example holidays. Often, these situations are unavoidable. Therefore, take time to watch your pet to figure out what triggers them to feel anxious or stressed and what behaviors they express in response to it. Meanwhile, dogs and cats can also express phobias to certain objects or situations. For example the vacuum cleaner or bathing. Once identified, work with your pet to condition them to the object or situation. Try using training and give positive rewards to modify their behavior.

Signs of Fear and Anxiety In Cats

Hiding
Excessive grooming
Panting
Going outside litterbox
Spraying
Aggression between cats

Signs of Fear and Anxiety in Dogs

Panting & Trembling
Hiding & Avoidance
Excessive drooling
House Soiling
Destruction
Excessive whining or barking

Nevertheless, for some dogs and cats, these methods alone will not be enough to ease or rid them of their anxiety. If you find yourselves in that position, consult with your veterinarian to find out if a supplement like Solliquin will fit your needs.

How To Reduce Holiday Anxiety For Your Dog or Cat

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Holly

When it comes to winter holidays many of us enjoy going to parties or gathering with family and friends. When celebrating the season it’s also important to remember your pets during the hustle and bustle. Some dogs and cats suffer from anxiety disorders, while others can have a sensitivity to loud noises. Holiday festivities can trigger these problems and sometimes lead to negative behaviors. We have included some ways to keep the holidays less stressful for your pets.

Visitors and groups of people can upset dogs and cats. Even pets that aren’t normally shy may become nervous with the noise and excitement that accompany a holiday gathering. A Room of Their Own: Give your pet their own quiet space to retreat to. Make sure your pet has a room or crate somewhere away from the commotion, where your guests won’t follow, that it can go to anytime it wants to get away.

Traveling is a common source of tension for pets. Car rides may cause animals to become nervous and sometimes carsick, making it unpleasant for both you and your pets. If you are leaving for an extended period of time or going out of town, you may choose to board or kennel your pets. Some pets experience anxiety and distress when separated from their owners. Make considerations and plans in advance for your pets when traveling, especially for those with separation anxiety.

New Year’s Noise: Many pets are scared of fireworks, so be sure to secure them in a safe, escape-proof area as midnight approaches. Animals that have firework anxiety react negatively to other loud noises as well. Keep in mind that common party items and celebrations can cause your pet to become anxious and fearful. These may include party poppers, party horns, and balloon popping. Learn more about holiday pet safety.

Medication For Anxiety

For some dogs and cats, these methods won’t be enough to ease or rid them of their anxiety. If you find yourselves in that position, consult with your veterinarian and get an assessment to find out if medication is appropriate for your pet. VetRxDirect offers a variety of anxiety medications and supplements.

Fluoxetine is a prescription antidepressant medication. It works with certain chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced. It is commonly used to treat certain behavior disorders in dogs and cats such as anxiety. Fluoxetine is available in tablets or capsules. Compounded oral suspension or transdermal gel is also available.

Zylkene is a natural way to soothe your pet. It helps discourage behavioral problems that stem from stress including improper urination, separation anxiety, and destructive behavior. This nutritional supplement is made from a special milk protein with peptides that can impact the brain receptors that cause stress. It has a calming effect on dogs and cats without causing sleepiness.

Have you used a medication to treat your pet’s anxiety?