Why Is My Dog Suddenly Anxious? 9 Vet-Verified Reasons & Solutions

Dogs tend to be happy-go-lucky creatures who live without a care in the world, so few things are more disconcerting than when your typically laid-back dog suddenly becomes anxious. Identifying the cause can be difficult, but it is doable with time and patience. If you can identify what might be causing your dog’s anxiety, you will have a good idea of where to start to help your dog feel safe and secure again.

Dogs can’t tell us how they’re feeling, so we’re left to use their behavior as a guide to help us determine how they’re feeling. Anxiety in dogs can be exhibited in a number of ways. If your dog has had any sudden changes in behavior, that is worth noting. If your dog has suddenly developed aggression, jumpiness, or fearfulness, that is extremely concerning. You may also see inappetence, excessive drooling or panting, inappropriate urination or defecation, lethargy or depression, pacing, excessive barking, trembling, hiding, and destructive behaviors.

The 9 Reasons Your Dog Is Anxious & How to Stop It

1. Fear

Just like humans, dogs can have fears and phobias. Maybe your dog is suddenly afraid of going through doorways. Has your dog’s tail been accidentally shut in the door recently? Your dog may have developed a fear of that doorway or doors in general. There are thousands of reasons your dog could have developed a fear of a specific situation, item, or person.

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2. Age

None of us like to think about our dogs aging, but it is an unfortunate truth. As dogs age, they can develop anxiety related to aging processes. The most common cause of this is Canine Cognitive Disorder, or CCD, which is similar to dementia in humans. Your dog may also begin to develop anxiety related to things that didn’t trigger anxiety before and may show alterations in social interactions or changes in the sleep-wake cycle.

3. Change

Some dogs are especially sensitive to changes within their environment. If you’re seeing signs of anxiety occurring in your dog, evaluate what may have changed in the environment recently. Some changes are obvious, like bringing home a new baby. Other changes may be less obvious to you, like new neighbors, road works, or home refurbishments, because those things don’t bother you.

4. Weather

Animals are far more sensitive to changes in the weather than humans are. They can sense changes in barometric pressure and unusual smells from off in the distance, like rain. If your dog has become anxious in a period of hours or days, and unusual weather has occurred or is expected to occur, this could be the cause.

5. Pain

Pain is the perfect example of dogs not being able to tell us how they’re feeling. Pain behaviors may be obvious, like limping. However, some dogs are more stoic and will grin and bear pain, so to speak. These dogs sometimes will show signs of anxiety, though. Aggression, jumpiness, hiding, depression, and inappetence are some of the most common signs dogs exhibit when they are stressed by pain.

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your pet, seek veterinary advice for the best course of action.

6. Human Emotions Toward Others

Dogs are sensitive creatures, and they can pick up on our emotions. If you and your significant other have been fighting, your dog may be anxious because they can see your face and hear your tone of voice. Negative emotions don’t have to be directed toward your dog for your dog to feel anxious because of them.

7. Human Emotions Toward Them

Whether you’re upset with your dog because they chewed on your favorite shoes, or you think your dog is anxious about something, so you’re fretting over them, your dog can sense your emotions.

• See Also: Can Dogs Sense When Someone Is About to Die?

8. Separation Anxiety

This is a very common form of anxiety in dogs, although it rarely just shows up out of the blue one day. Dogs with separation anxiety are commonly destructive, often breaking out of kennels, chewing holes in walls, and tearing up furniture. They may also be excessively loud, barking or howling the whole time they think they are alone.

9. Situational Anxiety

Sometimes, dogs will develop anxiety about highly specific situations. If your dog was attacked on a walk one time, for example, then it’s not uncommon for your dog to show signs of anxiety in the area where the attack occurred. Maybe there’s a yard you pass every day that has a dog that just drives your dog bonkers, so now your dog begins to get anxious when you turn on the same street as the house. Just like with fear, there are thousands of situations that can be anxiety-inducing for your dog.

What If I Can’t Figure Out What’s Wrong?

If your dog is showing signs of anxiety but you can’t identify the cause, then the first thing you should do is have your dog checked over by the veterinarian. Even if your dog saw the vet two months ago, they still need to be seen. There are many things that can quickly change with your dog’s health or environment, and your vet is the best resource to helping you identify and correct the cause, whether it’s medical or behavioral.

In Conclusion

If your dog is showing signs of anxiety, you’re not alone. If you went door to door in your neighborhood and asked everyone what makes their dog anxious, they’d all give you a different answer. Whether it’s the dog down the street or the fireworks on the Fourth of July, identifying the cause of your dog’s anxiety is your best tool to help your dog feel safe and secure. A dog with anxiety is uncomfortable and doesn’t have an effective way to tell you, so paying close attention to your dog’s behaviors is a great way to stay on top of how your dog is feeling. Researching dog body language is another fantastic way to monitor your dog’s emotions. See also:

• 9 Dogs Prone to Anxiety (With Pictures)

• How to Train a Skittish Dog

Featured Image Credit: Isa KARAKUS, Pixabay