We are all familiar with stress, and we often spend a great deal of our time trying to minimize or completely avoid situations that cause stress. Work, deadlines, bills, in-laws… common sources of stress. So it may be hard to believe, with their lives of naps, treats, and poop walks, that dogs can also become stressed. However, they can – and as a dog owner, it is critical to be able to recognize the symptoms of stress in your dog so that you can address them properly. Stress reduction is proven to lead to lowers rates of cancer, longer lives, and just better health overall. Here are some telltale signs that your dog is experiencing stress.
1. Gastrointestinal Upset Such As Diarrhea & Constipation
Although these symptoms may be commonly thought of as being a result of a dietary change or food poisoning, gastrointestinal upset can also stem from stress. If you haven’t recently changed your dog’s diet or fed him anything that could be tainted, consider whether or not there is a stressful variable in your dog’s environment.
2. Oversleeping
Have you ever gotten off of work, and despite it not even being that late at night, feeling as though you don’t even have the energy to get home and do the things that you enjoy doing in your free time? These feelings typically follow a stressful day at work, one that mentally fatigues you. Dogs can also experience this. Being stressed puts an enormous strain on the adrenal and nervous systems, leading to increased sleep requirements in order to rehabilitate.
3. Isolating
Stress can also lead to feelings of just wanting to be alone. Granted, everyone has varying requirements for alone time, including our furry friends, but it is really when you see an increase in this behavior that you should start to contemplate whether or not your dog is experiencing stress. Isolating is a dog’s way of coping with being overstimulated.
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4. Decreased Appetite
This is a telltale sign that your dog is experiencing some sort of psychological or physical health issue. Appetite is very prone to stress and disease, so always keep an eye on your dog’s appetite. In the absence of other symptoms, your dog may be eating less due to stress. A happy dog is a hungry dog (but not too hungry).
5. Aggression
Aggression is a sign of severe stress. If your dog has become aggressive, it’s typically because it is stressed out and scared, not because it’s angry or evil. Please consult with a professional on how to approach your dog’s aggression issues. Typically, the solution requires identifying the sources of stress rather than just suppressing the aggression symptoms.
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If you notice any of these symptoms, don’t hesitate to call your trusted veterinary professional to help you address them. You will often find that a lack of exercise, poor diet, or a lack of a place that the dog can go and be alone are the causes of stress. However, it is important to assess all the possibilities.
We all love our dogs, and want to do our best to make the happy, healthy, and stress-free. Those three qualities are often more linked to one another than we may think.
