7 warning signs your dog is stressed

Did you know that dogs feel stress just like people do? It’s true, and if you recognize dog stress warning signs, you can get your dog the help necessary to make her feel better.

Your dog is sensitive and has feelings and needs, and when things start to go badly for her, make her afraid, or worry her, she can begin to experience dog stress.

Stress or anxiety — especially separation anxiety — leads to health problems and can contribute to early death.

So, watch for the following dog stress warning signs and take action immediately, including using training or dog CBD oil to help ease your dog’s stress.

Hair loss

It’s normal for dogs to lose hair; after all, you clean up what they shed daily.

And some dogs lose even more hair as they age.

But severe hair loss, especially in younger dogs, is a warning sign something is wrong. 

Look for excess hair in your dog’s sleeping areas, as it may not always be evident from looking at the dog herself.

Watch for missing patches of hair or thinning hair, which is sometimes a dog stress warning sign.

Diarrhea

When people become stressed, they can experience intestinal problems like diarrhea, which can happen to dogs.

Of course, dog diarrhea can occur for all sorts of reasons, but if it persists for more than a few days, then that is cause for concern, and you should talk with your veterinarian about the issue.

Diarrhea is not your dog’s only intestinal issue due to stress.

Your dog can also suffer from constipation and various other digestive problems. Diarrhea tends to be the most obvious.

Staying away

If your dog seems to keep to herself recently and not spend as much time with you or the other animals in your home, that should be cause for concern.

Your dog may show signs of isolation, which could result from stress.

Dogs suffering from anxiety and fear will not want to stay around other creatures for long, so being isolated can make them feel safer and less stressed out.

Pay attention to your dog and these indications, as you may not catch them unless you look closely.

Excessive sleeping

How much sleep is too much sleep for your dog? If your dog sleeps more than usual, you may want to consider if she’s suffering from stress.

Dogs that feel constantly stressed will be tired, at least mentally. They will compensate by sleeping more to deal with the situation.

Watch for changes in your dog’s sleep patterns; if your dog is oversleeping or taking frequent naps, that could indicate she is feeling stressed.

Unwarranted aggression

Always be aware of any significant behavior changes. If your dog is suddenly aggressive toward strangers, other animals, and even people and animals that she is familiar with, that’s a dog stress warning sign.

Dogs that experience stress tend to become protective and defensive.

They may think that everyone is against them, so they believe it is normal to be aggressive.

You’ll know this happens if your dog pairs aggression with submissive and fearful body language.

Your dog may be aggressive one moment, then whimper the next, and look ashamed of her behavior. 

Curled lips

If there is a constant gap in your dog’s lips, that can indicate that she harbors aggression under the surface.

This type of facial expression means that your dog feels aggrieved and is ready to bite, so pay close attention to how your dog looks and behaves.

You may be able to catch stress symptoms early before they can do lasting damage.

Excessive panting

Excessive panting is another dog stress indicator.

Of course, it can also mean your dog is tired, but something is wrong if it is panting a lot even when she has not exerted herself.

Look at how much your dog pants and if she seems to be panting for no reason. 

Final thoughts on dog stress warning signs

If your dog shows unexplained signs of chronic stress, you will want to take her to the vet immediately.

The sooner you inform your veterinarian, the sooner your dog can get some help, and you can figure out how to reduce or remove the stress from her life and improve your dog’s mental health. 

Your dog may not show as apparent signs of stress as a human would in the same situation, but if you know what to look for, you can do something about anxiety in dogs.

Examine your dog if you notice any strange behavior, and as soon as you suspect something is wrong, let your veterinarian know so you can address any medical conditions.

If your dog is experiencing stress, consider using the Calmz Anxiety Relief System for Dogs, which uses a proven combination of vibration and acoustic therapy to reduce anxiety. You also can give him calming treats. 

David Anderson is the content editor at pupjunkies.com, a website dedicated to helping dog guardians love their pups better.

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