How Can You Tell If Your Dog Is Feeling Stressed?

Stress is a very real thing in the modern world. This isn’t just the case for humans either, as dogs are very sensitive to situations which cause them to feel anxiety and stress.

For instance, moving house may cause a dog to feel stressed because they’re in new surroundings which are alien to them. Owners going away on vacation is also a big stress causer for our furry friends – this miss you, and they rely on you for their comfort and their daily needs. Whatever the reason for your dog’s stress, it’s important to be able to spot the most common signs, so you can do something about it.

The thought of your dog feeling any type of pain or distresses causes your heart to constrict, and you want to take away their pain and upset, and make them feel better. The first step is knowing what to look for. These are five of the most common signs that your dog is feeling stressed.

Pacing Around

You might notice your dog showing signs of restlessness, e.g. they’re not resting as much they normally would, and they’re not laying in their bed when they normally would. If your dog is pacing around with no real intent, that could be a clear sign that they’re suffering from stress.

Shaking

There are several reasons for a dog to be shaking, but stress is one of them. In that case, you would need to look for other signs to identify the issue and speak to your vet if you’re at all concerned.

A stressed dog will shake for no specific reason, usually as they’re sitting still or lying in their bed. This is often connected with pacing, so if you see the two combined, stress could be a very real issue for your faithful friend.

Shedding Fur

Of course, there are times when your dog is going to shed fur a little more than others, and it really depends on the breed of dog you have too. If however, you’re noticing your dog’s fur is shedding more than normal, and at strange times, or it is falling out in larger clumps, that is a very sure-fire sign of stress. When a dog starts to lose fur unnecessarily, you also need to take the issue seriously, because stress could be advanced by that stage.

Panting For No Reason

Of course, if the weather is hot or your dog has been playing, they’re going to pant and this is normal. If however you’re noticing your dog panting when they’re resting, and they have access to water, it could be that they’re suffering from stress. When this is happening they’re likely to be very aware of the reason that is causing the anxiety, and it is almost like an anxiety attack reaction. In this case, make sure you think about identifying the reason for the stress and how to ease it.

Going to The Toilet More/Less Often

Any change in your dog’s toilet habits needs to be assessed carefully as this is one of the main pointers towards health issues or conditions. If your dog is going to the toilet more often, that is a common sign of stress. However, it can also go the other way and be that they become constipated or don’t pee as often too.

If you regularly notice these five signs, especially more than two at any one time, it’s important to try and pinpoint the reason for your dog’s stress and alleviate it. By doing this, you’re helping your dog’s anxiety levels and helping them feel at ease once more.