Pets cannot tell us they are anxious, but they show it, often in small ways that are easy to miss or to mistake for bad behaviour. Long-term stress affects a pet's health as well as its mood, so the signs are worth learning to read.
Signs of stress in dogs
- Licking the lips or nose when there is no food around
- Yawning when not tired
- "Whale eye": the head turned away while the eyes keep watching, so the whites show
- Ears pinned back, tail tucked, body lowered
- Panting when it is not hot and the dog has not been active
- Pacing, restlessness or trembling
- Barking, whining, chewing or digging, especially when left alone
- Hiding, or avoiding people it usually greets
Any one sign can have another explanation. Look at the whole dog and the situation it is in.
Signs of stress in cats
- Hiding more than usual
- Over-grooming, sometimes to the point of bald patches
- Urinating or soiling outside the litter tray
- Eating less, or sleeping differently
- Hissing, swatting or sudden irritability
Common causes
- Loud noise: firecrackers at Diwali and weddings, thunderstorms, construction.
- Long hours alone. Some dogs develop separation-related distress: howling, destruction or soiling only when left by themselves.
- Change: moving home, a new baby or pet, rearranged rooms.
- Too little to do: no walks, no play, nothing to sniff, chew or work out.
- An unpredictable day: meals and walks at different times every day.
- Pain: a sore tooth, ear or joint can show up as irritability or withdrawal.
What helps
- A routine. Feed, walk and play at about the same times each day.
- A safe retreat. A quiet corner or crate for a dog, a high shelf or box for a cat, where nobody disturbs them.
- Daily exercise and enrichment. Walks with time to sniff, puzzle feeders, chew toys and short training games.
- Gradual change. Introduce new people, pets and places a little at a time.
- Preparation for noise. Before firecracker nights, keep pets indoors, close the windows and curtains, put on the TV or music, and let them hide if they want to.
- Rewards for calm behaviour, and no punishment for fear. The American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior recommends reward-based training and warns that force and punishment increase fear and aggression.
- Short practice absences for a dog that panics when alone, built up slowly from a few minutes.
When to see a vet
See a vet if the behaviour is sudden, severe or getting worse, if your pet stops eating, or if it shows aggression that is new. Pain and illness are common hidden causes, so a check-up comes first. For serious anxiety, a vet can put together a plan that combines changes at home, behaviour training and, in some cases, medication.
Some anxious pets are calmer when examined at home than in a clinic, which can give the vet a truer picture of how they are day to day.
Sources
General information, not a diagnosis. If your pet seems unwell, contact a vet.
