We are often very excited to get our pets into our house and our arms, but what happens if they are not as forthcoming? Or perhaps you have had your pet for a long while, and all of a sudden, they are behaving strangely and showing symptoms of anxiety?
These circumstances can be a difficult thing to manage, which is why it is important that you understand how to help when it is needed.
This piece will discuss how you can understand your anxious pets, and how to help so they can feel more comfortable.
Why Do Pets Get Anxious?
There are many reasons that pets can get anxious. Sometimes they might just have a nervous disposition, whereas other times there could be a specific trigger that can seemingly come out of the blue. Either way, there is usually an underlying reason for anxiety, and whatever that reason is has already happened. Now it is time to focus on what you can do to alleviate their symptoms and help prevent any flair-ups from happening again.
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Find The Trigger
In some cases, the trigger of your pet’s anxiety will be obvious. In others, you might find you learn over time, or it can appear to be a mixture of things.
If you have adopted a pet, there is a reasonable chance that you will not know what their life was like before you and it could be a slow process into building trust.
If you have bought or adopted a pet from ‘birth’, their understanding of the world will start forming from the moment they open their eyes, along with their new journey with you.
If you can find out what the trigger is, there is a chance there to do some classical conditioning. This can help your pet associate the trigger with something positive instead of fear. If you are unable to find the trigger, then helping them through the symptoms would be the next step.
Some common forms of anxiety for pets include separation anxiety, anxiety from fear, and also anxiety in old age.
What Are the Symptoms?
If you are wondering how anxiety can present itself in a pet, there are a few symptoms you should be aware of. As with humans, some symptoms manifest and can seem like nasty behavior, but the behavior is driven by fear and not a nasty temperament.
Aggression, urinating or defecating inside the house or on themselves, destructive behavior, crying or barking, and restlessness are just a few symptoms to keep your eyes peeled for. It will always be worthwhile taking your pet to the vet as well, to make sure there is nothing else going on. If you head to Bonney Lake vets, you will find a competent clinic that is kitted out to offer all important services for your pets.
What You Can Do
Patience will always be the most important thing you can give to a pet who is anxious, along with plenty of positive reinforcement when trying to change their behaviors. You can also ask your vet for anti-anxiety medication.
