Stress is a condition in which someone feels uneasy, and the extent to which it can reach may even prove to be fatal for health. People’s health? Yes, of course, but the same is true for pets too.

Dogs can feel Stress!

If you have a pet dog, then there is a possibility that one of the symptoms that you have seen as nervousness might be the beginning of this condition. So, it becomes important that you should be able to understand and counteract it and, thus, put an end to any of these signs that can be quite annoying.

If your furry companion is under the influence of stress, then you might witness some behavioral changes in them, which are inadvertent; however, have some causes and symptoms. Your pet might start eating grass as they like the taste, feel excessive energy throughout the body, some might even get nervous at every situation, or become super excited too.

To dig deep, let’s open the guide that puts the first focus on symptoms and causes of Stress in Dogs and explains its different signs.

Symptoms and Causes

Look out for these symptoms, which may suspect some unusual behavior:

• Repeated behaviors or movements, sometimes you may get confused about whether chasing the tail indicates stress, nervousness or happiness
• In some cases, they become aggressive and tend to bite
• You might see apathy or reluctance, mainly when you feed them
• They may start to fear specific situations like when they see strangers
• They bark effusively
• They do not stay at one sitting place, feeling restless and helpless

The causes due to which a dog feel stressed can be many, and a few of them are mentioned below. Take a rundown:

• Changes in routine
• Fear of a situation (like Vet Visits)
• Separation from their owner
• Feel abandoned
• Thunderous noises
• Travelling
• New changes
• Removals
• Strangers or maybe crowd

Can Dogs’ Stress have any Consequences?

Stress in dogs can cause various hormonal changes in the body, resulting in various abnormal conditions. These are primarily related to the digestive and intestinal system, which consequently, can prove fatal.

Many signs that are observed in pets are the causes that make them feel afraid, anxious, and stressed, which are called stressors. These arise due to physical and psychological manifestations that occur in your dog, so you must be alert to know what they are and why they happen.

Stress Indicators in Pet Dogs

# Hyperactivity/Lot of In-Out Movements

Stressed dogs perform fast and continuous movements, which can be seen in many forms like chasing their tail, running all over the place, coming and going throughout the house, and there are many other activities that can be considered as hyperactivity.

# Barking and Whining Uncontrollably

Many times you will see your dog barking in anger; perhaps, a non-stop barking. This is the stress that makes your dog crazy, which would simply not settle down by just telling him not to do it.

At that time, practice not to yell at him, even though you’ll get irritated, but in this way, you will avoid adding more stress to him, which he is already dealing with.

[Nota Bene (NB):

It is significant for you to know that your pooch’s barking is constant, strong, and repetitive, something that will make you feel angry many times. To lower down the heat of the moment, you must calm down, breathe, and avoid giving them scoldings or punishments.]

# Loss of hair

You might have seen many cases in which dogs end up shedding their coats; nevertheless, the loss of fur also occurs in cases of chronic stress in which your pet begins to feel bad about the situation he possesses.

They can also lose it by pulling it hard with their teeth. If this occurs, then this calls for you to see a Vet as soon as possible.

Hair loss is also associated with different times of the year, so if you see that it is releasing a lot and does not correspond to the date, then you must pay close heed to it, and may consider it as one of the indications of stress or nervousness.

Prefer Reading: “How Dog Shampoos for Shedding can Improve your Pet’s Coat?”

# Tendency to Bite Everything

Stress in dogs also often causes them to nibble on anything they have in front of them, as an example of their attack; we have the legs of the furniture, which feel the strength of their teeth. The marks on the furniture show that your furry pal(s) have been scavenging with fear and anxiety.

# Eat the Soil

Although your four-legged family members eat all the meals timely and routinely, they might showcase different eating patterns (like eat or pick up crumbs that fall from the kitchen table or countertops, etc.) without even being hungry.

On connecting the dots, the outcome is predicted to be more of a reaction of stress in them, that must be scrutinized closely, and eliminated soon. It is also possible that they display other deviant behaviors such as going to the trash and taking any dirt or waste that you have thrown away from it.

[The Fix:

This is a measure of concern for you to pay a visit to the veterinarian and search for a solution to improve his condition and provide him with the essential cure.]

# More Water Intake than Usual

It is also possible that you notice your dog drinking a lot of water. At first, it would look to be a normal drinking pattern, but when the activity is witnessed almost every day frequently, then you must see it as an indication of anxiety. This anxiety causes your furry fab to become dehydrated and show all the different kinds of movements and gestures, carried out as a result of this factor.

[The Focus:

It is necessary that you have your dog bowl always full to let them drink their liquid in a good amount, and avoid reaching the extremes of dehydration. Although they do not usually eat much, such a pattern will attract your attention to his eating habits as well, because they will taste less food than they used to eat.]

# Repetitive Movements

You will see your pet always doing the same movements, which can be:

• Walking everywhere,
• Going around his tail,
• Feeling restless and roaming around, now and then
• Entering and leaving the house
• And many other noticeable ones

This behavior is analogous to the repetition of the same or frantic alteration of the activities done under the sway of stress. It is something that they do not usually do.

Say, they try to catch a fly, they lose concentration and fail to do so. Such a thing would be often repeated, and you will realize that it is the same movement, if you look at it sneakily.

# Don’t Pay Attention

Dogs also tend to ignore when you call for them. They start lacking concentration, and in addition, avoid obeying the orders which show major signs of stress. So, it becomes elementary to check if there is something that is bothering your beloved pet.

[The Need:

Get them your attention and pampering. Make their playtime full of fun and manage to spend more time with your canine friends. Eat with them, rest with them, read with them, so that they feel the love and get rid of the botherations and tensity.]

# Excessive Saliva and Gasp

When the dog is stressed, there might be an increase in the salivary glands, which results in the production of more salivary fluid. This is accompanied by small intense emits, and repetitive gasps, signalling towards major stress concerns.

[Look Closely:

You should pay attention to see that he cleans the legs effusively, or on the contrary increases the drool that comes out of the mouth, since on the other hand, there is a possibility that he is feeling excessive heat and needs to cool himself, so he gasps than normal.]

Prefer Reading: “3 Ways to Keep Your Pet Cool.”

Stress in Dogs can prompt us to prevent potential reasons, unintentionally, which may continue to hurt your furry member(s) for long and even pose a threat to their life. So, don’t neglect any of these above-mentioned signs and prefer to consult the Vet in serious situations portrayed by your pet dog.