Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Vet Says My Dog Has Anxiety - What do I do next?

By Bev Langford


If your dog has just recently been diagnosed with a dog anxiety it's probable that you're feeling a touch worried about what this diagnosis means. You are probably thinking, anxiousness is a human condition, how could dog actually get anxiety?

In actual fact, what is called dog anxiety is actually more like obsessive compulsive disorder. Your dog could be exhibiting incessant compulsive behaviors. The issue is most dogs who have been diagnosed as having dog separation anxiety feel the constant need to be around their owner and can't stand to have their owner out of view. When their owner isn't in the home, looking after them, they begin to panic, and become distressed and then they'll exhibit behaviors that are quite different to the behaviors they demonstrate when you are at home.

Common dog anxiety behaviors.

Many dogs will just run around the house looking for you. They are going to run in and out of each room virtually in a panic to frenzy hunting for their owner. The dog was anxious to continue this behaviour for hours. Although they have checked every room 10 times, they will still keep going back and checking again.

Other dogs may become destructive when they realise that their owner is not at home. This can include damaging doors or door frames, gnawing at the windowsills, damage of personal property and furniture. Dogs with anxiety will usually gnaw on shoes, clothing and socks of the owner. Some believe that it is the dogs way of getting close to the owner because the owners scent is still on these items.

Then there are those dogs that may just become vocal. They might bark all day, howl all day, yap and whimper. This may not always disturb you however it will upset your neighbors.

If your dog has been diagnosed as having dog anxiety the most important thing is not to panic. Dog anxiety is totally curable. Typically, using a mix of desensitisation techniques, behavioural modification techniques and in most severe cases, dog anxiety medicine can also be used.




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