• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Macarthur Veterinary Group

Your family pet is in safe hands

  • Home
  • About
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Opening Hours
    • Testimonials
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • Facilities & Equipment
    • In The Community
    • Sustainability
  • Our Team
    • Partners
    • Veterinarians
    • Specialists & Consultants
    • Nurses
    • Administration
    • Careers
  • Services
    • Preventative Health Care
      • Annual Health Checks
      • Vaccinations
      • Heartworm Protection
      • Flea, Tick & Worm Control
      • Microchipping
    • Medical and Surgical Services
      • Desexing
      • Surgery
      • Dentistry
      • Dermatology
      • Wildlife & Rescue
      • Senior Pets
    • Emergencies
    • Facilities & Equipment
      • Endoscopy
      • In-house Laboratory
      • Radiology
      • Surgical Suites
      • Ultrasonography
    • Puppy Preschool
    • Cat Boarding
    • Behaviour Consultations
    • Dietary Advice
    • Pet Insurance
  • Contact
    • Bradbury
    • Camden
    • Gregory Hills
    • Mount Annan
    • Review Us Online
  • Pet Care
    • Blog
    • Articles
    • Downloads
    • Email Newsletters
    • Preventative Health Care
    • Dog Care
    • Cat Care
    • Rabbit Care
    • Ferret Care
How to Recognize Anxiety in Our Pets, and What Might Help

How to Recognize Anxiety in Our Pets, and What Might Help

You are here: Home / Articles / How to Recognize Anxiety in Our Pets, and What Might Help

Cats, Dogs · 15 May 2020

How to Recognize Anxiety in Our Pets, and What Might Help

Unfortunately, anxiety in our pets may be as common as in us humans!  Dogs and cats are wonderfully social and complex creatures… two big reasons why we love them so much. But with that complexity comes many challenges.  To help our furry friends feel as calm as possible, we all can try to better recognise the signs of stress, anxiety, and fear. 

Many unwanted behaviours in our pets can be the result of anxiety. Fortunately, if we can better identify potential symptoms, there are many things we can do to help alleviate stress in our pets and improve their behaviours.  The following are some simple tips and suggestions that could help your family pet find their calm.

What causes anxiety for our pets?

The causes of pet anxiety are nearly as numerous as those for human anxiety, and in many ways are quite similar.  Fear of change, fear of being alone, and fear of the unknown are probably the three big categories for everyone!  Some common categories of anxiety in our pets are: 

  • Separation anxiety (being alone)
  • Loud noises like fireworks and thunderstorms (the unknown)
  • Changes in the home (changes)
  • A big disruption to schedules (changes)
  • A new pet in the home (changes)
  • Vet Visits (strong memories of unpleasant things in the past!)

How common are the above?  It is estimated that about 77% of pets suffer from stress & anxiety.

What are the signs of anxiety in pets?

You will notice from the list below, that many symptoms of anxiety or fear could have multiple causes. For example, barking, drooling or panting obviously could signify many different things depending on the situation (e.g. excitement, hunger, exhaustion).  In dogs, common signs of anxiety or fear include:

  • Barking / whining
  • Pacing
  • Scratching
  • Chewing
  • Drooling
  • Panting
  • Urinating and defecating in the house
  • Shaking
  • Digging

In cats, commons signs include:

  • Scratching
  • Peeing or pooping outside the litterbox
  • Constant meowing
  • Hiding
  • Fighting

How to Help Our Pets Feel Less Anxious

Whether it’s a recent change in behaviour, or a problem behaviour that has been around for a long time, anxiety may be the cause.  First, it is always a good idea to talk to your vet to rule out any potential medical issues.  With that done, here some simple tips and solutions to help reduce anxiety in pets.

Spend more time together: If possible and don’t hold back on physical contact.  Physical contact helps both humans and pets relieve anxiety… bring on the love!

Change the environment:  It may seem obvious, but if you are able to identify the stressor and can remove it, do so!

More exercise!  Walking, playing, running…whatever can get some energy out and get the blood flowing.

Safe spot:  If possible, create a quiet and safe space in an interior room that can serve as a escape from problem stimulations.

Get professional help:  Speak to your vet for the best guidance!

Try pet anxiety products that are proven to help.

FELIWAY & ADAPTIL are clinically proven to help manage signs of stress and anxiety for cats and dogs. In fact, ADAPTIL combined with the ThunderShirt is also a great solution for dogs.

FELIWAY Diffuser comforts cats at home and helps reduce signs of stress such as urine spraying, scratching or hiding.

Available in a collar as well as a diffuser format, ADAPTIL helps comfort and reassure dogs and puppies, helping them to feel calm and relaxed.

Like swaddling an infant, ThunderShirt’s patented design applies gentle, constant pressure to calm many types of anxiety, fear, and over-excitement issues. 

Try these perfect calming companions for your furbaby!

Find out more at the FELIWAY blog or ADAPTIL Calm On-the-go Collar.


Article courtesy of Ceva Animal Health

Back to Top   |   Back to Articles


Related content

  • Is Your Cat Stressed? post
  • Socialisation at a time of Social Isolation post
  • Puppy Preschool service
  • No Bored Cats! article
  • Environmental Enrichment to Help Your Dog Combat the Winter Blues article

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Update – 24th June 2020

24 June 2020

Throughout the Covid isolation period,  Macarthur Vet Group has been committed to providing you with the services you want and need for your pets.  Although the government has now eased …

Continue Reading

Meet Chisel the Puppy!

11 June 2020

We’d like to introduce everyone to Chisel!  Chisel is a gorgeous male Golden Retriever puppy.  Over the course of the next few months, we are going to give you a glimpse into his puppy life, …

Continue Reading

Puppy Mischief!

18 February 2021

In one of our earlier blogs titled “Puppy Proofing”, we discussed how Chisel’s owners erected some wooden fencing and mesh to protect their gardens from a mischievous puppy!  Well we’re here to …

Continue Reading

Chisel’s Family Reunion!

4 February 2021

So much puppy love!  Late in January, Chisel was very fortunate to have a little family reunion gathering at the local dog park.  Most of Chisel’s brothers and sisters were there!  …

Continue Reading

Phone Outage

2 February 2021

On Wednesday 3rd February from 4am-6am (Syd/Melb time zone), there will be a disruption of our phone and voicemail service, due to a system upgrade. If you have an emergency and need urgent …

Continue Reading

Quick Links

  • Emergency Information
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Opening Hours
  • Review Us Online
  • Careers & Work Experience

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Follow Us

Footer

Bradbury

75 Jacaranda Ave, Bradbury NSW 2560
Book an appointment Call 02 4627 1333

Camden

6 Ironbark Avenue, Camden
Book an appointment Call 02 4655 7664

Gregory Hills

2/13 Rodeo Road, Gregory Hills
Book an appointment Call 02 4648 3588

Mount Annan

Unit 17/2-4 Main St, Mount Annan
Book an appointment Call 02 4647 7722

Copyright © 2021 Macarthur Veterinary Group · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · Website by Provet