Stress in dogs
People aren’t the only ones who can experience stress; dogs can suffer from it too. Stress is actually a common problem among our loyal four-legged friends. It’s important to recognize stress in your dog as soon as possible so you can do something about it. Stress can lead to unpleasant situations and/or negatively affect your dog’s health.
How can you recognize stress?
Dogs communicate through their bodies. Their body language can reveal signs of stress. It is therefore important to recognize the body language associated with stress. This makes it possible to determine what is causing stress in your dog so you can do something about it. But what body language indicates that a dog is experiencing stress?
- Whining or barking. Both whining and barking can be signs of stress. A dog often reacts automatically when experiencing stress by whining or barking; it is usually an automatic response that the animal cannot really control. Assess the situation carefully when a dog starts whining or barking, as there may also be other reasons for this behavior (for example, making its presence known, issuing a warning, or asking for attention).
- Growling. Although people often assume that a growling dog is aggressive, this is not always the case. Growling can also be a sign of discomfort. In this way, a dog tries to make it clear that something or someone is getting too close, that it is in pain, or that it feels threatened.
*Try not to punish your dog when it growls. Growling is often a warning signal indicating that a dog may attack. If you punish the animal, it may skip the growling (the warning) in a future situation and go straight into attack mode. - When a dog is startled by something, for example while out walking, it may stiffen or freeze. This is often a ‘dangerous’ situation because your dog does not know how to handle it. Biting or attacking may then be the next step…
- A dog can use various signals to indicate that it is experiencing stress. These signals may include: holding its ears flat against or toward the back of its neck, tucking its tail between its legs, licking its lips, yawning, panting, showing the whites of its eyes, looking away/avoiding eye contact, and raising the hair on its neck.
In addition to the body language mentioned above, the following movements/postures may also indicate that your dog is suffering from stress:
- Restlessness
- Reduced appetite
- Poor concentration
- Trembling
- Raised front paw
Possible causes of stress
A dog can experience stress as a result of various situations or changes. The following situations may cause stress:
- Pain
- Expectations that are too high for a dog (for example, during training)
- Separation anxiety
- Trauma (for example, if your dog has ever been attacked by another dog)
- Sudden changes in the environment
- Too much or too little exercise
The effects of stress
When a dog suffers from stress for a prolonged period, this can have unpleasant consequences. For example, the animal may become more susceptible to health problems or lose concentration more quickly. Possible consequences of stress include:
- Weakened immune system
- Digestive problems
- Heart problems
- Aggression
When you can determine the source of the stress, you can remove it. However, it can be difficult to determine exactly what is causing the stress on your own. In that case, you can consult a behaviorist. You might consider contacting a behaviorist if your dog is very aggressive or suffers from severe separation anxiety.
There are also certain supplements that may help reduce stress in your loyal four-legged friend. Always consult your veterinarian or a holistic veterinarian to determine whether the supplements you want to use are suitable for your dog. In addition, always choose products developed with natural ingredients.
Prevention is better than cure! That is why you should always make sure your dog can burn off its energy through plenty of walks and playtime.
