As humans, we have all dealt with anxiety at some point in our lives. But how often do we consider the possibility of anxiety in our pets? Often it is hard to distinguish between unwanted behaviors of fear, aggression, anxiety, and a physical problem. Anxiety in dogs and cats is often not a simple diagnosis. Because an anxious pet is an unhappy pet, it is important to zero in on the possible reasons for anxiety and take steps to alleviate it much as possible.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is both a mental and physical state of negative expectation – in other words, worry. The mind and/or body will encounter (or anticipate) stressful, dangerous, or unfamiliar situations, feelings of distress, discomfort, apprehension or even aggression. Signs of anxiety can be expressed as both physical symptoms and/or behavioral issues. The signs that are common to dogs and cats include:
- Holding ears back
- Hair standing up
- Excessive barking or vocalization
- Hiding, or following their pet parent everywhere
- Avoidance or displacement behavior (backing or turning away, scratching or yawning excessively)
- Aggression
- Cannot relax, always on alert
- Changes in eating habits
- Sound sensitivity – most often fireworks or thunderstorms
- Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Other signs of anxiety in dogs include drooling, licking lips, panting, whining, holding the tail close to the body, and shaking or trembling. Dogs may also growl, threaten or bite when another human or dog tries to approach when the dog may be guarding what it considers something valuable (known as “resource guarding.”) Anxious cats may overgroom and make unwanted changes to litter box usage, such as urinating outside the box.
What are the causes of anxiety?
There are a host of possibilities as to the cause of anxiety, but the following reasons are most common:
- Changes to environment: Moving to a new residence or a new pet or person entering the family can cause anxious feelings. Even a new pet caretaker can trigger anxiety.
- Trauma: Pets adopted from a shelter may bring with them traumatic memories. Try to get as much information as possible about their history.
- Illness and pain can contribute to anxieties or even exacerbate them.
- Improper socialization: Anxiety can result from dogs or cats being deprived of positive environmental and social exposures, especially during the socialization period (between 2 and 14 weeks of age).
- Phobia: A phobia is a persistent, exaggerated fear response that may be so extreme it is debilitating. Examples include noise phobia (fireworks) and traveling in a car.
Western and Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) perspectives share common ground in that they believe most dogs and cats will experience anxiety at some point, and the behavior will worsen if not met with a plan to manage it. Conventional western medicine and TCVM diverge when considering how to manage anxiety. TCVM is based on the “five element theory” – wood, earth, metal, water and fire - when assessing personality traits. The pet’s constitution (traits) offers insights into their personality strengths as well as emotional disharmonies. For example, earth dogs have gentle, nurturing, maternal personality traits; however, emotional disharmonies of worry and obsession can lead to GI upset. Fire dogs have constitutions that are easily excitable and have disharmonies that cause excessive emotional stress which can lead to physical stress.[1]
The five elements are also applied to the physical aspects of the animal. Canine anxiety is believed to be tied to the water (kidney and bladder) and fire (small intestine, pericardium and heart) elements. In TCVM, the heart oversees “shen” – the mental activities of the brain, including emotions, mood, and will. The kidney (water element) has many functions, including growth and development and blood generation. It also regulates the water metabolism in the body. A dog or cat with anxiety has the inability to control heat (heart fire). In an emotionally healthy dog, the fire and water element are balanced, thereby maintaining equilibrium and adaptability in the face of challenges or changes.
What are the best ways to manage anxiety in dogs or cats?
- DIET: Start with what is in the bowl. Any supplement or herb given to your pet will be more effective if you are feeding a species-appropriate diet – real, whole foods made up of 70-80% animal protein with skeletal meats and organs for dogs and 80-90% for cats. Since anxious dogs have too much heat or emotion, they respond well to cooling foods – whitefish, duck or rabbit. Studies have shown that fresh raw food is best to calm a dog or cat.
- Herbs: There is an array of herbs that are spirit-calming, heat-draining, and harmonizing. Herbs can be used in combination to utilize synergistic properties and to offer a natural and effective alternative for managing anxiety.
- Get them outside: Fresh air and sunshine is good medicine and is especially important for indoor cats. A supervised romp around the yard can be mentally stimulating.
- A physical exam from your veterinarian including bloodwork and urinalysis can rule out any physical conditions that might create anxiety. Additional tests may be required depending on the results. Make sure your veterinarian has as much medical history on your pet as possible. Explain the situations and behavior you are observing that you think may be triggering the anxious response. Keep a journal of your pet’s behavior and include the date, the location, and the symptoms or behaviors you are observing and anything you might have done with or without success to calm your animal. A video journal that records the behavior can be shown to your doctor and is an excellent way to explain the problem.
- Essential vitamin and mineral testing is often not part of the standard panel of bloodwork conducted by your veterinarian, but it is especially important to determine certain deficiencies that can cause depression, anxiety, lethargy, etc.
- Medicinal mushrooms such as Lion’s Maine help to support the nervous system.
- Adaptogens such as ashwagandha are very helpful for mental health and nervous system function.
- Flower essences can ease the transition into a new home.
- Pheromone therapy for cats provides soothing scents that mother cats emit to comfort their kittens.
- Probiotics: The microbiome plays a big role in regulating all systems in the body, and gut health is essential to good nervous system health. The gut is often referred to as the “second brain” of the body. Studies conducted on cats showed that when a probiotic was added to their food, their serum cortisol (the stress hormone) concentrations were reduced.
- Calming music: “Through a Dog’s Ear” and “Through a Cat’s Ear” are two good options.
- Essential Oils such as Lavender, Ylang ylang, Bergamot and Chamomile have calming effects. Use only oils approved for animals. Cats are more sensitive to side effects with some oils; always check for safety testing before using.
- Anxiety wraps and vests: ThunderShirt, Mellow Shirt, and AKC Calming Coat use gentle pressure much like swaddling a baby to reduce anxiety and over-excitement in dogs.
A word on anti-anxiety medication – some human versions of anti-anxiety medications have received approval from the Food and Drug Administration for use in pets. These behavior-altering drugs do not result in a “brand-new” balanced and calm pet. Pet parents will still need to use behavioral interventions to help manage the stress response.
Can behavioral modification help reduce anxiety?
Behavioral modification is essential in helping to reduce anxiety in your dog or cat. Some of the more common and effective strategies include:
- Comfort: Create a haven that is a quiet, secluded space with little environmental disturbance. Provide cozy bedding with familiar scents, and high hiding spots for cats. Consider a crate for your dog, but keep in mind that cats often do not like to be confined.
- Routine: Establish consistent routines including regular mealtimes, walks, play sessions, and periods for rest. Stimulating toys can provide a distraction from worry.
- Anticipate: Prepare for surprises by creating a plan for when things don’t go as expected.
- Desensitization: This strategy is especially effective for separation anxiety. Leave the radio or television on for company when leaving your home. Walk out of the room and immediately come back, then increase the amount of time the pet spends alone. Desensitization is a good strategy for car anxiety as well. Place the pet in your car without moving it or running the motor for a minute or two. Each time you place your pet in the car, work slowly to the goal of traveling for moderate to longer rides.
- Training: Find an experienced fear-free trainer who offers classes for you and your dog. Such a trainer would use positive reinforcement versus harsh methods such as yelling, jerking leashes, pinch and/or shock collars, etc.
- Stay calm: A dog or cat may pick up phobias and anxiety you or others in the household may have. For example, if you jump when thunder strikes, your dog or cat may take your cue and do the same. Do not react negatively to your pet’s phobia but use a calm, gentle manner when comforting them.
Anxiety is a complex emotion that can arise from various factors, some (like thunderstorms) of which are beyond your control. Start with behavior modification and natural supplements to support the nervous system. The best medicine to employ is patience, understanding and compassion. With these, your pet will see an improvement in their well-being. Remember that there are no quick fixes. The goal is to gradually help balance your pet’s entire way of being – physically and emotionally.
[1] https://www.herbsmithinc.com/how-tcm-views-anxiety/
