Dog Anxiety Symptoms Chicago, IL

As a dog owner in Chicago, it’s important for you to be as in-tune as possible with your dog’s needs and feelings. The more easily you can recognize your dog’s feelings, the easier it will be for you to care for her. One of the ways you can do this is to learn how to recognize signs of anxiety in your pet.

In the article below, you’ll find information about some of the most common symptoms of anxiety in dogs. You can use this article to help you learn when your dog might be exhibiting these symptoms and when you should talk to the vet, too.

 

7 Symptoms to Look For 

 

Dog Pacing

When your dog is anxious, she may start pacing back and forth. She might have a route she takes every time she paces, or the pacing may be erratic, depending on the situation. She may be unable or unwilling to settle down and get comfortable because of her anxiety.

Pacing can sometimes also be a symptom of pain and illness in dogs. If you think there’s any chance your dog is sick or injured instead of just anxious, be sure to take her to the vet right away. If you’re sure the problem is anxiety, however, you can work to help your dog calm down instead.

 

Dog Whining and Barking

Whining is common in dogs who are anxious, because they want the attention and protection of their human family members. Don’t coddle your dog if she’s whining out of anxiety, and work to reward her for times when she’s quiet instead.

The same is true of barking. If your dog is barking out of anxiety, you must work to train her to stay quiet instead. Both whining and barking can sometimes indicate pain, however, so make sure your dog isn’t in pain before working on this training.

 

Licking Feet and Legs

One of the most common signs of anxiety in dogs is the obsessive, frequent licking of the feet and legs. If your dog repeatedly licks and chews on her legs and feet, chances are good she’s dealing with anxiety and is trying to find a healthy way to process this feeling.

Dogs who lick their legs and feet too much may be at risk of hot spots or hair loss. If your dog develops hot spots, you’ll need to work with your vet to figure out the best solution for treating the condition.

 

Dog Destructive Behavior

Dogs who have a lot of anxiety tend to become more destructive than those who don’t, especially when faced with the source of their anxiety. For example, if your dog is anxious when left home alone and you leave her uncrated by herself for several hours, you may come home to a shredded sofa or some destroyed pillows.

If your dog is very destructive only at times when she must deal with her anxiety issues, you can work to train her to stop behaving this way. In very severe instances, your vet may be able to prescribe anxiety medication for your pet as well.

 

Potty Accidents

Dogs who have anxiety issues may be prone to urinating, defecating, or both indoors when the anxiety source crops up. For example, if your dog is afraid of thunder or fireworks, she may start having potty accidents in the house when she hears these noises going on outside.

If the potty accidents only occur at times when your dog is very anxious, then you know they’re probably related to her anxiety. If, however, they happen all the time, this could be an indication of a health problem. You should take your pet to the vet if she is older than a puppy and is unable to control her potty needs at all times.

 

Dog Hiding

Finally, hiding is a common sign associated with anxiety in dogs as well. Dogs may hide under or behind furniture, in closets or cupboards, or under blankets if they feel anxious. This usually happens acutely, meaning that it only occurs when your dog is faced with the problem causing her anxiety.

If your dog is hiding almost all the time, however, this is a sign that she’s dealing with some pain or illnehe backss. Dogs who hide more often than not are almost always hurting and need to be treated by a vet right away.

 

When to Visit Your Vet in Chicago

Do you feel like you’ve learned something useful about anxiety symptoms in your dog? With the help of this information, you should be able to figure out when it’s time to talk to your vet about your dog’s anxiety. If the time is now please give our vet a call at (773) 698-7525 or Request an Appointment.