Dogs of all ages can experience anxiety in response to a stimulus, change in environment, or exposure to a specific person, animal, or action. You can help ease your dog’s anxiety and maintain his overall health and happiness by developing a better understanding of what is causing his fear. Here are some easy ways you can prevent and manage anxiety in dogs.
Desensitization
Desensitization is the controlled, repeated exposure to a stimulus or trigger that causes anxiety in your dog. Exposing your dog to low levels of stimuli, in a controlled environment, might give him the confidence to get used to it. Give your dog rewards for remaining calm during the exposure period.
Counterconditioning
Counterconditioning trains your dog to change his response to a stimulus. Using positive reinforcement can encourage positive behavior instead of negative behavior. Distract your dog with a treat or reward when he is fearful or anxious.
Environmental Changes
If an environmental stimulus is causing your dog’s anxiety, eliminating the stimulus might cause your dog’s anxiety to go away. If eliminating it isn’t possible, you can make adjustments to your dog’s environment to make him more comfortable. Use a kennel, crate, or comfortable bed to create a safe space. You might even make him a nest in a dark closet or the bathroom so he can retreat there if the environmental stimulus occurs.
Calming Aids & Medications
If nothing else works to calm your dog’s anxiety, you should consult with your veterinarian. You might need to consider using calming aids and anti-anxiety medication to relieve your dog’s symptoms. CBD oil has proven to be a safe, effective remedy for anxiety in dogs. Prescription anti-anxiety medication might also be recommended in some cases, if a dog’s anxiety is causing harm or injury to himself, his environment, other animals in the house, or his human family.
Your dog’s anxiety might increase his risk of other health problems, or lead to unwanted behavior. Visit your veterinarian if you can’t manage to ease your dog’s anxiety, if it gets worse, or if you suspect it might be due to an underlying health problem.
