Anxiety in dogs is the anticipation of danger, regardless of an apparent cause or threat. Depending on the severity of anxiety and how often it occurs, it can be debilitating for dogs and tax the human animal bond.
Anxiety in dogs can be global (affecting their day to day life in many ways) or situational. Examples of situational anxiety includes anxiety when the owner leaves the home, anxiety at the vet, or dogs that have thunderstorm phobias.
No matter the cause of the anxiety, the best results are achieved by combining a behavioral management plan with calming supplements/pheromones or medication. The Adaptil collar provides a calming pheromone detected only by your dog and is available on Amazon.
Dogs can display a range of anxiety behaviors from mild to more severe. Anxiety can first start as a puppy or years later in a senior dog. Young dogs develop anxious behaviors as a result of genetic factors, learned fear from fearful experiences or inadequate socialization as a puppy. Dogs that only develop symptoms as a senior dog generally do so secondary to cognitive decline. Therapy for dog anxiety revolves around recognizing the anxiety, understanding when it occurs, and at what age it developed. Addressing your dog’s anxiety means optimizing a behavior management plan, specific nutrition, supplements and in some cases behavioral medication.
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Recognizing signs of anxiety in your dog
Symptoms of anxiety in dogs are: pacing, hypervigilance, hiding or avoiding people or places, panting, vocalizing, drooling, shaking and yawning. Body postures that indicate fear or anxiety include: lowered body posture, tucked tail, ears that lay flat, freezing, and/or holding up a front leg. Some animals may refuse to sleep or eat or urinate submissively. Fear in dogs is expressed as fight, flight or fidget.
Fight response: this may be manifest only around other dogs, or when constrained to a leash or in a kennel. They may be aggressive when guarding a territory (their home) , a person (their owner) or they may resource-guard food (become aggressive if their food is touched). Flight is manifest as hiding, cowering, submissive urination etc. Finally, fidget symptoms are the variety of smaller physical cues of fear distress: licking a body part over and over, yawning, circling, tail chasing, pacing, drooling, or shaking.
Noise phobia, thunderstorm anxiety
If anxiety is excessive and always occurs with a certain stimulus like loud noises or thunderstorms this is defined as a phobia. Any animal can develop a phobia to a certain situation or stimulus. In the United States the most common phobia is Thunderstorm and noise phobias.
What is canine separation anxiety
One of the most common and debilitating expressions of anxiety in dogs is separation anxiety. Separation anxiety affects 17-29% of pet dogs and is one of the most prevalent causes of canine relinquishment to shelters. There is no breed, gender or age predilection dogs but it most often develops in dogs under 3 years of age.
The definition of separation anxiety is that the anxiety symptoms only occur when the dog is alone and cannot access his/her owner. Most dogs experience separation anxiety when separated from the person to whom they are most attached. Some dogs even develop distress if the owner is in a room they cannot access.
Dog anxiety symptoms with separation anxiety
- Destructive behaviors. Usually destruction of doors and door surrounds, confinement area exits, or the owner’s possessions like clothing and furniture
- Excess vocalization
- House soiling (less common)
Other symptoms include increased activity, excess licking, roaming, restlessness, shivering, shaking or repetitive behaviors such as licking one body part such as their foreleg, circling, pacing and occasional aggression as owners prepare to depart.
Characteristics of canine separation anxiety
Most signs of separation anxiety occur within 30 minutes of departure. Separation anxiety signs may decrease over time or have a cyclical nature recurring every 25 to 60 minutes. External stimuli may lead to re-arousal.
Dogs with separation anxiety spend most of their time staying vigilant to their surroundings. This is in sharp contrast to dogs that don’t have separation anxiety spend the majority of their time home alone resting and sleeping. Dogs who experience separation anxiety may smack their lips, yawn or raise their paw as an anxious response. Some dogs engage in restless pacing, vocalization or escape activity.
Dogs can develop separation anxiety if suddenly separated from owners after a period of prolonged or constant/exclusive contact. Separation anxiety also may develop in individuals that have other anxiety disorders such as noise and storm phobia. If storm phobias worsen so that the dog is dependent on owners they may progress to feeling they can’t handle distance from the owner.
- Shelter dogs are over-represented and this may be because they have already experienced separation at the time of relinquishment.
- The presence of another pet has not been shown to be protective against separation anxiety.
- Puppies adopted before 12 weeks of age are at no greater risk.
- Single owners are 2.5x more likely to have a dog with separation anxiety than multiple owners in a home with the exception of couples with kids.
Preventing anxiety in your puppy by early socialization and habituation
If you have recently adopted a puppy, it is important to work on socialization right away. Early socialization and habituation is important for well-adjusted puppies. Socialization of your puppy simply means continued exposure to new and novel things, people and animals for the first 6-8 months of life. During this time puppies can learn to habituate situations and things without fear or stress.
Socialization and exposure should be presented in small doses so the puppy can remain calm and not overwhelmed. A goal of having your puppy meet and interact with about 100 people is a great goal. Have your puppy interact with all kinds of people: men, women, children, babies, people with hats, people on bicycles and skateboards, canes, and other dogs in different environments. Aim to keep the interaction positive and never overwhelming for your puppy.
Introduce these types of people and animals in a non threatening manner so that your puppy can have many positive experiences at an early age. While you cannot do anything about genetic factors that contribute to anxiety, you can aim to reduce development of anxiety by exposing your puppy to many novel people and situations.
Puppies develop social attachments to people and pets between 3 to 12 weeks of age. They can start to become fearful at 6 to 8 weeks of age but social interest will outweigh most fears until 12 weeks of age. Puppies that are raised to expect excessive social interactions may develop separation anxiety as early as 12 weeks of age. It is important to introduce your puppy to periods of separation so they can learn to cope with spending some parts of the day alone.
Preventing separation anxiety in a new puppy
- Provide a wide range of experiences and interactions with people and pets between 5 to 10 months of age
- Try to keep to stable routines and separations
- Avoid leaving the home for long periods of time but also avoid being home for long periods of time!!
- Habituate your puppy to increasing periods of absence from the home
- Curtail attachments to certain people in the home by not allowing them to move from room to room with the owner.
- Minimize excitation with coming/going from the home
What to do for a dog with anxiety
When working with your dog on their separation anxiety, never punish your dog for unwanted behavior. Punishment can increase anxiety. Punishment delivered upon a return to home may not be recognized by the dog and is likely to be ineffective. The best way to help your dog manage their anxiety is to develop a behavior management plan and pair that with the use of a dog appeasing pheromone, behavioral supplement or medication.
Developing a behavior management plan for your dog:
The goal of a behavior management plan for a dog with separation anxiety is to reduce your dog’s dependence on you. A behavioral management plan aims to help your dog achieve a calm and relaxed state and learn this behavior through training. Strategies focus on:
- avoidance of the anxiety trigger
- modifying the home environment
- modifying interactions surrounding departures and arrivals
- teaching your dog to engage in relaxation exercises
- Avoiding the trigger: take your dog to daycare, to your workplace, or hire a pet sitter
Environmental modification for your dog
Environmental modification is focused on creating a peaceful and comfortable environment for your dog. Some options include using white noise machines or play classical music or a podcast to muffle outside sounds that trigger anxiety and establishing a secure resting area for your dog in your home. A secure resting area for your dog might be a special crate.
The AKC provides a 9 step method to crate train your dog.
Crate training does not work well for all dogs. You have to determine what area works best for your dog. If you can teach your dog to relax in this confined space when you are home, they will be more likely to be amenable to confinement when you are not home. A crate can be a cause of severe injury in dogs if it exacerbates their fear. It’s typically best to avoid confinement if it is safe to do so. Block off areas that may be dangerous to your dog and remove valuable items.
Provide enrichment toys such as feeding with puzzle toys and providing appropriate items for your dog to destroy such as phone books, pizza boxes, newspapers, and stuffed toys. Provide free choice water and freeze if if needed.
Faster and larger improvements in anxiety are achieved when behavior management is combined with either a drug or a pheromone. I recommend you always incorporate the use of the canine pheromone dog appeasing pheromone (DAP) when working to reduce canine anxiety. DAP is a synthetic pheromone that mimics a neutral pheromone released from between the mammary glands of a lactating mother. It is designed to reduce stress related behaviors in both puppies and adult dogs. DAP can come as a diffuser, spray bottle or collar infused with the pheromone called Adaptil.
Can you cure separation anxiety quickly?
Curing anxiety in dogs typically takes some trial and error and often several weeks to implement a home plan and medications and/or supplements. If you need anxiety symptoms to be calmed quickly, it will require the use of drugs tailored to your dog. Often “event” drugs are used to help manage spikes in fear and anxiety. These can be utilized for a short while in conjunction with a long term behavior management plan in order to accelerate a response.
Tips on how to depart your home when you have a dog with separation anxiety
- Go on a long brisk walk prior to your departure.
- Prepare in advance for your departure: prepare a long lasting enrichment treat such as frozen peanut butter stuffed Kong that will take your dog 10 to 15 minutes to finish.
- Block sounds and sights of your departure which trigger anxiety: don’t shake your keys or make a lot of noise when putting on your coat or shoes.
- Utilize a plug in DAP diffuser like Adaptil or fit your dog with a DAP collar.
- Do not fuss over your dog in the hour before leaving. Keep things neutral.
How to reassure an anxious dog: Systematic desensitization to leaving your dog home alone
You may need to work on systematic desensitization to leaving the home. Start by leaving for only a few seconds and gradually increase your time away. The goal is to return before your dog starts up with anxious behavior. In many instances vocalization occurs within 3 minutes of leaving and destructive behaviors within 7 minutes of leaving.
This systematic desensitization works best combined with counter conditioning. Have your dog engage in an activity that is pleasurable while you’re gone. If they are engaged in a pleasurable activity they cannot simultaneously experience anxiety.
Systematic desensitization works well and can be achieved more quickly when combined with counter conditioning.
Word to the wise: Keep the plan for your dog to 5 steps or less.
Dog owners given more than 5 steps to follow to reduce anxiety had much less reported improvements in their canine companions
Treatment of separation anxiety
Treatment of severe separation anxiety symptoms is sometimes best to use BMP with a behavior modifying drug like fluoxetine or clomipramine. This allows your dog to experience a more calm state of mind so that they are better able to learn new responses. You can aim to withdraw the medication once the behavior starts to improve.
- Cease all punishment of poor behavior
- Desensitize to leaving with gradually increasing absences
- Immediately before leaving give dog food so they associate leaving with happy experience of eating (counter conditioning)
- Aim to keep absences short to medium in length avoid long departures- if poor behaviors recur then restart with shorter absences.
Devices to aid your anxious dog
Place a video recording device in the room where the dog spends the most amount of time. This way you can evaluate how effective their strategies are and what types of behaviors are happening and when they occur.
A popular video device for dogs is the Furbo Dog Camera. This device has both audio and video so you can see and hear your pet . It can alert you when your dog is barking and allows you to toss treats from the device.
Certain instances like anxiety when someone comes to the home- Ask your dog to exhibit a calm behavior like relaxing on a mat when you’re entertaining. This helps your dog practice the skill of remaining calm when guests come to your home.
Here is a good article that explains in detail how to train your dog to settleon a mat.
A Manners Minder Treat and Train is a great device that can help you train your dog to settle or exhibit other positive behaviors. This device provides one or several treats (depending on the setting) that you can control with a small remote control.. It trains your dog to engage in a rewarding activity (collecting the treat ) when they exhibit a behavior like resting on a mat when a visitor rings the doorbell . There are a myriad of training possibilities when paired with this tool. See this video below for examples of how the late Dr. Sophia Yin utilized this device to train dogs.
Dog Anxiety Medication
Being relaxed is essential to learning new behaviors. This is why the use of behavior modifying drugs can be a vital therapy when working with a dog with anxiety.
One study showed that a DAP diffuser was just as effective as the use of clomicalm in reducing anxious behaviors in dogs. However, if you feel you need to do more to ease your dog’s fears and anxiety, there are several pharmacologic options available for dogs.
There are two FDA approved antidepressants prescribed for the use of behavior therapy in dogs.
Clomipramine (brand name Clomicalm) Clomipramine is a Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) drug
Fluoxetine (brand name Reconcile). Fluoxetine is an selective serotonin Reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)
Studies have shown 70 to 80% reduction or elimination in anxious behaviors in dogs given fluoxetine or clomipramine in combination with a behavior management plan.
Selegiline (brand name Anipryl) is an FDA approved drug for treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction which causes behavior problems in older dogs.
Event drugs to use for intermittent anxiety triggers or as an adjunct to daily use anxiety therapies:
Sometimes additional short term sedatives or anti-anxiety drugs are added on for situational use to address anticipated stress spikes- such as thunderstorms, car travel etc.
Dexmedetomidine oral gel: FDA approved treatment for anxiety from noise aversion. Sileo: Gel is applied to the inside cheek and is absorbed quickly. Blocks norepinephrine which is similar to adrenaline produced from noise aversion/anxiety. This drug is sometimes also used for other anxiety provoking events like long car rides and veterinary visits.
Trazodone: Works to improve mood and decrease anxiety. Can be given long term but is typically used an an event drug for situational anxiety in dogs or as an add-on drug to daily anti-anxiety therapy if there are anticipated triggers
Benzodiazepines: diazepam, alprazolam (valium, xanax): Sedatives to treat anxiety or panic. In some dogs benzodiazepines can produce a hyper-reactivity reaction. Is typically used as an event drug for situational anxiety or as an add-on drug for anticipated anxiety triggers.
Clonidine: Alpha-2 agonist (similar to dexmedetomidine) is frequently used for noise phobias, separation anxiety and fear based aggression. It is given as an oral tablet up to every 8 hours as an add- on drug often with the use of other behavior modifying anti-depressant drugs.
Common owner concerns regarding the use of anxiety medications in dogs
How will my dog’s behavior change? Prescribing drugs are aimed to limit only the undesirable behaviors. Symptoms like sedation and lack of play engagement etc. can be eliminated by stopping or reducing the drug.
Are these medications safe? Patients are eligible for treatment after monitoring baseline blood work. If baseline blood work is normal you can maintain a pet safely for years in most instances.
Will my dog be sleepy all the time? There may be initial transient sedation. This can be avoided by slowly increasing to the target dose over a couple of weeks instead of suddenly.
How long will my dog need to be on behavioral medication?
It can take 4-6 weeks to see the full effect of a behavioral drug. The medication should then be maintained an additional 3 to 6 months to allow a dog to have reduced fear/phobias while learning new techniques to cope. The drug should be gradually weaned by 25% every 2-4 weeks.
Dogs who cannot fully achieve response/not adequately responsive to behavior modification may need to remain on these drugs for years.
Never abruptly discontinue these medications as that can cause rebound anxiety. taper: by 25% every 2-4weeks. If any undesirable behaviors return, you can maintain a new lower dose.
Home remedies and over the counter supplements for dog anxiety
Dog Appeasing pheromone (DAP):
A synthetic pheromone that mimics the natural pheromone derived from the inter-mammary glands of the dog. Helps as a calming aid and is very useful in conjunction with behavior modification at home.
Adaptil: Comes as a dog collar that should be changed monthly, a room diffuser or a spray that you can apply to the inside of a kennel, on a bandana to wear around your dog’s neck, etc.
L – theanine:
L- theanine is an amino acid (building block of protein) that helps to increase dopamine and serotonin which improve mood . Incidentally on a veterinary forum some veterinary behaviorists quoted about 50% response rate in dogs noted anecdotally.
This is available in Axitane and Composure .
Anxitane, it has 50 mg L-Theanine (Suntheanine® brand) in the cat/small dog size.
SAM-e
Antioxidants to support brain function in aging dogs:
Senilife: Can take about a month to see results.Active ingredients: Phosphatidylserine 25mg, Ginkgo Biloba extract 10mg, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Resveratrol 5mg
Bifidobacterium longum BL999:
There is research to support the use of this strain of probiotic bacteria to reduce anxiety in dogs. Healthy gut microbes can influence the gut-brain axis to improve mental health and anxiety. Purina specifically recommends this for use in dogs with separation anxiety and noise phobia.
Purina Calming care probiotics. Available in daily use packets.
Dog anxiety vest:
Research has shown that a constant pressure to the torso (like a hug or swaddling a baby) releases natural endorphins and oxytocin to improve mood and reduce anxiety.
Thundershirt: available in a variety of sizes and shapes for different dogs.
White noise machine:
Any white noise or music like classical music or even a podcast may mask outside noises that can trigger anxiety in your dog. You can try asking your Alexa to play “ambient noise”. There are 12 sounds to choose from.
Prescription canine diets to support cognitive decline and anxiety:
Purina Proplan Neurocare diet: Contains:
- Amino acid Arginine,
- EPA/DHA (omega 3 fatty acids)
- Antioxidants,
- B vitamins
- medium chain triglyceride oils to support cognitive health (“brain food”)
Hills BD diet : advertised to support memory care and learning in older dogs. Contains:
- antioxidants
- omega 3 fatty acids
Royal Canin Calm diet contains:
- Alpha-casozepine is an amino acid chain derived from milk shown to have calming effects.
- L-tryptophan is an amino acid that also has calming effects.
- Nicotinamide, also known as Vitamin B3. Nicotinamide creates a calming effect within the central nervous system.
Summary
Canine anxiety can be a challenge to navigate. The good news is there are a lot of interventions that can make a huge difference to your dog’s quality of life. Try incorporating a few strategies and speak to your veterinarian about the best plan for your dog.