Anxiety in Dogs

Anxiety in Dogs

 

Behavioral problems have become a major concern for pet parents over the past decade.  Years ago dogs had working roles within the household and spent a lot of their time outside.  Some dogs guarded the herds while others helped their masters hunt.  Our modern lifestyles have evolved more quickly than our pets’ instincts and now some of these once desirable behaviors that we have bred into our animals are no longer so useful.  Dogs need training, attention and play time to thrive.  When your dog is full of energy and wants to play they are acting on their basic nature and you as their guardian need to allow times for activities with them.  Certain breeds, especially those bred to herd, hunt, retrieve or otherwise work will always be high energy.  This behavior turns into a problem when it becomes obsessive, destructive or dangerous.

 

Even the most laid back dogs become frightened by too much excitement.  Often times there are specific situations that seem to set off our pets’ fears that require more help that behavior modification training alone.  In the case of rescued dogs, pet parents may not know their pets’ histories or why they react to certain situations with fear, but there seem to be a list of triggers that are common stressors:

  • Travel
  • Guests
  • Separation anxiety when their people are away
  • Visits to the vet or groomer
  • Thunderstorms or Fireworks
  • Separation Anxiety
  • Changes to home environment or routine
  • New pets in the household

 

Regardless of what stressor sets off your dog, there are going to be times when a calming product can make life a lot easier for both of you.  Before starting any new supplements, it is always a good idea to talk to your vet about any questions or concerns you may have because your vet will know your specific cat’s history.

 

 

 

Studies

 

Brief owner absence does not induce negative judgment bias in pet dogs.

 

Efficacy of dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP) for ameliorating separation related behavioral signs in hospitalized dogs.

 

L-theanine attenuates abstinence signs in morphine-dependent rhesus monkeys and elicits anxiolytic-like activity in mice.

 

Effects of L-theanine on posttraumatic stress disorder induced changes in rat brain gene expression.

 

Setting apart the affected: the use of behavioral criteria in animal models of post traumatic stress disorder.

 

Chronic exercise improves repeated restraint stress-induced anxiety and depression through 5HT1A receptor and cAMP signaling in hippocampus.

 

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in macaques following early life stress and inverse association with hippocampal volume: preliminary implications for serotonin-related function in mood and anxiety disorders.