Our pets enrich our lives in so many ways that sometimes we forget that every day isn’t necessarily a good one for them. You may not know this, but our pet dogs and cats can suffer from anxiety just like us human folks do.
Pets experience many of the same emotions that humans do, and anxiety often causes them to feel uneasy. You may not be able to completely eliminate their anxiety, but there are some things you could do to help them feel more at ease.
In this article, we’ll cover some great tips that will help soothe your anxious pet. We’ll discuss everything from triggers to solutions like special pet clothing and natural calming supplements like CBD for pets.
Keep reading to find out the best ways you can keep your anxious fur kid calm!
What Triggers Anxiety in Pets?
Pets are sensitive to many of the same triggers that cause anxiety in humans, including:
- Moving to a new house or environment
- Changes in their routine or daily schedules
- Being around certain people or other pets
- Being away from home, even if only for short periods
- Illness or injury
- Loud noises and more
As you can see, many things may cause your pet anxiety. You need to be aware of them and take the proper steps to avoid such triggers whenever possible. Be sure to monitor your pet’s behavior carefully when introducing new things or changing their environment in any way.
There can be long-term health impacts on your pet if you don’t take the proper steps to address their anxiety. For example, chronic stress is now known as a factor for disease progression in animals and humans alike. In addition, there’s evidence that constant stress leads to increased inflammation and a weakened immune system.
Another typical result of chronic stress is obesity. Stress hormones in the body trigger the production of insulin (a hormone that regulates blood sugar). Chronic stress can lead to high cortisol levels (the “stress hormone”), which triggers increased food consumption, especially among pets who are free-fed. The result is a higher risk for obesity and diabetes, which leads to an increased risk of heart disease.
Unfortunately, many things can cause anxiety in pets that aren’t avoidable. However, with effort, practice and patience, it’s possible to help soothe your pet’s anxious feelings even during such times.
How to Calm Your Anxious Pet
#1.Try Using an Anxiety Wrap or Thundershirt
These wraps provide gentle pressure, which has been shown to reduce stress-related behaviors in animals and humans. These products don’t require any training whatsoever and have helped many pets already! Owners of anxious dogs or cats need to be patient with their pets. These garments won’t solve all your pet’s anxiety problems. Still, they will provide them with some comfort, and you’ll likely notice a difference in behavior pretty quickly.
#2. Exercise
Dogs need exercise every day just like we do! If your dog is anxious around people or other animals, try exercising them before introducing them into the situation. This will help tire them out and reduce anxiety levels. If they can go on a run in the off-leash park, that’s even better! Walks and runs will calm dogs, which helps lower stress hormones. Don’t forget that cats also benefit from exercise, so you’ll need to set aside some playtime for them where you use objects and toys to stimulate them and get them moving.
#3. Play Relaxing Music
Studies have shown that classical music has proven to reduce anxiety in both humans and animals. It’s worth a try! Also, it won’t hurt to leave some soothing music on when you leave the house to muffle outside noises that may cause anxiety in your pet.
#4. Massage Them
Just like we love getting massages, pets do, too! Check out online guides for how to gently massage your canine or feline companions. And if you’re not comfortable doing this yourself, some professionals can either teach you or do it for you.
#5. Acupuncture
This is a type of therapy in which needles are inserted into the skin at certain points on the body to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and promote healing. It has been used to treat anxiety in pets for decades. The treatment involves needles inserted into points along meridians that connect to organs associated with the animal’s condition. In addition, it helps promote natural, healthy energy flow through these meridians. The effectiveness of acupuncture varies from animal to animal. It depends on many factors, such as the severity of symptoms or their personal history with any treatments.
#6. Use Natural Remedies
Before turning to prescription solutions, you may want to try natural remedies like pet CBD products. Something like CBD oil for dogs is easy to use. Simply add it to their food at their evening meal every day. And, yes, it’s also available for cats! CBD has been shown to relieve stress and calm anxiety, so it’s worth trying!
#7. Reach Out to Your Vet
When all else fails, there are times when medications may be able to help calm an anxious dog or cat. However, it’s always worth speaking with your vet. Some pets need treatment for their anxiety disorder before they can be more relaxed. Once they reach a better place, you can use some other methods to keep them there.
#8. Stay Patient
Remember to stay patient with your pet. Dogs and cats aren’t as capable of rationalizing situations or expressing themselves verbally. (Husky owners might disagree, though!) So you may need to do a little bit more work to help them feel comfortable. But love them unconditionally and always show them how much you care!
Worth the Effort to Calm an Anxious Pet
If you’ve read this article, chances are that your pet is feeling anxious. We want to help! Remembering these tips and putting a few into action can go a long way in soothing the nerves and giving them peace of mind.
With more calm comes less anxiety, which means a happier pup or kitty for everyone around them. When pets feel safe and loved, they become loyal companions who enjoy their time with us more, too!
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