Pets and anxiety: What to look for and how to help your furry friends

DELMARVA – Anxiety in pets is a more common occurrence than you might think, but you may not be sure what to look for or how to help your furry companion.

Dr. Marianne Bailey, owner of Queenstown Veterinary Hospital, says anxiety symptoms can vary a bit between animals. For dogs, she says you might notice excessive panting, sticking close to your side, or even some gastrointestinal issues. Cats on the other hand may hide or exhibit unusual behavior such as hissing or growling.

Dr. Bailey says her office most commonly sees pet owners reaching out for help when it comes to travel-related anxiety, but other triggers, such as vet visits or visits from guests, are just as important to address.

“If we get a dog or a cat that’s so stressed out that they’re not themselves, they’re not going to allow us to do a good physical exam, so we’re not going to be able to get a good look at them and give you a good idea of their health.”

One thing you can do to help with vet anxiety is to occasionally stop by your vet’s office and let your pet check things out.

“We love it if you just bring the dog by the vet, if you’re out running somewhere with your dog stop by, let’s give it a treat, give it some pets, sit on the scale for a treat, and go. Quick visit, no shots, no blood draws, nothing scary.”

For cats, Dr. Bailey says you can leave out their carrier year-round and even put a cat bed in it, so they can get used to it.

Although pet owners might be reluctant about treating their pet’s day to day anxiety with medications, Dr. Bailey emphasizes that they are perfectly safe, and may only be needed temporarily.

“Sometimes with these dogs we can start them on medications everyday, and then with time the medications help them realize the scary event isn’t so terrible, and then we can start to decrease the medications or even stop them.”

Additionally, there are some natural options to help your furry friends with their anxiety. Dr. Bailey says Adaptil (for dogs) and Feliway (for cats) are pheromones humans can’t smell that allow pets to relax.

If you think your pet may be suffering from anxiety, experts say you should talk to your vet as soon as possible.