3 Secrets to Pet Anxiety

By HelloLife

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When it comes to pet anxiety, both the pet and the owner are victim. It can cause emotional and physical discomfort on both ends. Understanding and knowing how to deal with pet anxiety will put you and your pet well on the way to a healthy and mutually beneficial relationship.

Types of Anxiety

There are a number of factors that cause anxiety in our pets, and that anxiety manifests in a variety of ways.

Separation Anxiety Symptoms most often associated with separation anxiety are reckless behavior, such as chewing or urination on personal property. This retaliation, so to speak, is generally instigated by the owner's absence, but may be caused by other factors, such as early separation at birth or a sudden change in environment.

Noise Anxiety This type of pet anxiety is commonly displayed at the occurrence of any loud noise thunderstorms, a vacuum cleaner, or even kitchen appliances like blenders and tea kettles.

Social Anxiety Social anxiety often goes back to the time of birth. Dogs that are raised in a puppy mill are less likely to undergo proper socialization, and thus not know how to interact with other dogs or people. This causes stress and anxiety, and eventually aggressive behavior.

Action to Take

Whether your pet is expressing fear, a need for affection, anger, or confusion, these three secrets are sure to promote a healthy and balanced environment for you and your pet.

#1 The Golden Rule Do unto others as you would have done to you. What about our pets? While we may not be able to erase past experiences and ingrained reactions, we can do our best to counteract negativity with slow encouragement and reinforcement of positive behavior. Yelling might get immediate results, but using it exclusively creates an unpleasant home environment, and little incentive to behave calmly.

#2 Know Your Pet As with any animal, your pet's habitual behavior can depend on the inclinations of the specific breed.. However, you should not only know your pet, but listen to her; observe her and be aware of what causes certain reactions. If you are aware of the things you do that affect your pet, like leaving for extended periods of time, make sure to prepare them. Provide things that your pet loves to either give them a sense of security or distract them. It's also a good idea to ask a friend or neighbor to come over and play with your pet if you are going to be gone for more than a day.

#3 Be Patient Especially for pets that have been adopted, managing an anxiety disorder may be more realistic than treating it. If you cannot handle the challenge, it may not be the pet for you. At that point, it's better to try to find the pet an appropriate home rather than have both of you suffer. It is best to work with your pet instead of trying to force desired behavior upon them. This isn't to say that you should not make them aware of what they've done wrong, just do it in a purposeful counteractive way. Dealing with a sensitive pet can be hard work, but as it is often said, the best friendships are forged through conflict.

Sources:

http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies.com

http://www.usask.ca/wcvm/

http://www.nativeremedies.com/petalive/articles

http://veterinarynews.dvm360.com