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Fear and Anxiety Behaviors of Dogs and Cats

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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 harmful, destructive, or aggressive behaviors. Treating problem behavior can be a multi-step process, often requiring 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 has the behavior occurred? Is there anything that makes it better or worse? This information will be critical if you need to consult with your veterinarian.

Common triggers of Anxiety in Dogs and Cats include:

  • Loud noises, including fireworks, thunderstorms, construction, or street noise
  • Being home alone
  • Kenneling, boarding, traveling, or moving
  • Car trips to the 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 the 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

When it’s Time to Talk to Your Veterinarian

Reporting behavior problems and concerns to your dog or cat’s veterinarian is essential. 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. Your vet should monitor all treatments.

Products for Pet Anxiety

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.

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 remain fully functional. Sileo is an oral gel labeled to start working in 30-60 minutes and last 2-3 hours.

 

This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease and is purely educational. Please seek advice from your pet’s veterinarian with any questions regarding your pet’s health.

Reconcile Helps Treat Canine Separation Anxiety

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Separation anxiety is a behavioral 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 their 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 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, 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 a trainer or animal behaviorist to achieve the best results. More severe cases may require medication to be effectively treated. It is best to talk to your dog’s veterinarian for the best combination of training and medication.

What is 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 behavioral 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!

This information is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease and is purely educational. Please seek advice from your pet’s veterinarian with any questions regarding your pet’s health.