Pet Anxiety Awareness Month: Dogs Get Anxious, Too!
June is Dog Anxiety Awareness Month, and our veterinarians at Capital Home Veterinary Care like to use the opportunity to educate pet parents about anxiety and depression in dogs. That’s right. Dogs can experience stress, anxiety, and depression. Dogs develop anxiety and depression for different reasons. Sometimes, these issues occur as a result of a lack of enrichment, exercise, and activity. They can also happen after the loss of a family member, another pet, or as a result of being scared when left alone at home.
Signs of Depression in Dogs
- Disinterest in toys or play
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Isolation or hiding
- Sleeping more than normal
- Restlessness
- Growing or howling
- Sad facial expression
Signs of Anxiety in Dogs
- Destructive behaviors (chewing, digging, or scratching)
- Accidents inside the house
- Excessive panting
- Pacing
- Licking at paws obsessively
- Whimpering or whining
- Howling
- Trembling
3 Tips to Alleviate Your Dog’s Depression and Anxiety
1. Make a Veterinary Appointment
Whenever you notice any changes in your pet’s behavior, the first thing you should always do is schedule a veterinary examination. Behavior, personality, and attitude changes in pets can signify underlying health problems, and your pet should be thoroughly examined before just assuming your dog has depression or anxiety.
2. Focus on Enrichment
Ensuring your dog gets enough exercise every day is essential, and different breeds require different amounts. Dogs also need to keep their minds busy, challenged, and active. Playing plenty of games, socializing with other pets, or exposing them to new environments can help with this.
3. Consider Calming Supplements
Talk with your veterinarian about calming supplements and other calming devices for your pet. These can help ease their anxiety while you work on training them to feel more secure.
Minimize Your Pet’s Anxiety With Mobile Veterinary Care
In addition to suffering from separation anxiety and other stresses, some pets also experience anxiety when visiting a veterinary clinic. This can make getting your pets the veterinary care they need to stay healthy a stressful and difficult experience for both your pets and you.
To take the stress and worry out of your pet’s wellness, preventative, and sick pet care, we welcome you to establish care with our mobile veterinarians at Capital Home Veterinary Care in Richmond. We bring everything your pet needs right to your doorstep with our mobile veterinary clinic. To learn more or schedule an appointment for your dog or cat, we welcome you to contact us today.