Anxiety Archives - Page 3 of 3

A dog is anxious as his owner leaves for the day.

Anxiety

Dog Separation Anxiety From Leaving Dog Alone

By Joe Wilkes Dogs are very social animals, and they would like nothing more than to be by your side 24/7. But dog food doesn’t buy itself, and that may entail you having to leave them home alone while you go off to bring home the bacon, and the dog treats. We might imagine our dogs gleefully doing the Tom Cruise “Risky Business” slide when we shut the door behind us in the morning, but the more likely scenario is the dog experiencing some level of separation anxiety. This separation anxiety might manifest itself as anything from nuisance barking or

June 18, 2015 No Comments

a dog looks out the window watching a storm

All About Dogs

Is Bad Weather Coming? Ask Your Dog

“Dog Alerts Owner to Bad Weather” It sounds like a headline from a supermarket tabloid but scientific facts support this seemingly amazing claim — which is not so amazing to those of us who own dogs. So many of us have experienced our furry companions barking well before we hear thunder, or have come to enjoy the old head-in-our-lap cuddle just before rain pelts our house. How often do we find our dogs jumping for joy just about the time we hear our weatherman warning of an imminent snowstorm? We’ve all heard those not-so-tall tales of a family’s dog barking

June 18, 2015 No Comments

All About Dogs

Avoiding Back To School Doggie Blues

As September approaches again, that means it’s back to school time for many households. With all the hustle and bustle of getting the kids ready and off for school, it can be easy to forget the dog. While back to school is usually an exciting, fun time for the humans in the home, for your dog it can mean loneliness and boredom. All summer long, there was most likely someone home with your dog — the older students on break, or little ones with a babysitter. Now that everyone is back to their fall schedules, your dog may feel neglected

June 18, 2015 No Comments

A dog is experiencing PTSD symptoms after a traumatic event.

All About Dogs

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Can It Affect Your Dog?

The Wall Street Journal ran a story about Gunner, a bomb-sniffing dog stationed in Afghanistan. After being exposed to the realities of war, Gunner became so skittish that he was declared “excess” by the Marine Corps and relieved of his duties. Upon returning to The States, it was decided that Gunner exhibited symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Although recently in the news, canine PTSD is a fairly new concept and one that veterinarians are still debating. Doctors are hesitant to slap an official “PTSD” label on a stressed-out dog; however, many agree that dogs that have experienced certain

June 18, 2015 No Comments

dog sits under unbrella during rainstorm

Afraid of Fireworks

Weathering The Storm

Perhaps you know the drill: A flash of lightning, a clap of thunder, and your normally calm dog is off whining and wildly searching for a hiding place. Animal behaviorists call this reaction “storm anxiety” or “noise phobia.” And while it’s pretty common in dogs, it’s hardly easy to watch — or cure. But don’t ignore it, advises Matt Peuser, a Kansas veterinarian, explaining “Most of the time, they don’t grow out of it on their own, and many will get worse with time if nothing is done.” Yet many owners are stumped about how to address the behavior. One

June 18, 2015 No Comments

a rotweiler sits patiently for it's owner

All About Dogs

Depressed Rottweiler Not Eating

Hi Cesar, My nine-year-old Rottweiler has stopped eating since my husband and I separated. My husband has been deployed for most of the marriage so, for the first 45-90 days, it was not an issue. Then last month, our dog—who has never had a problem eating—stopped eating. Then she lost all interest in her favorite toys. For years, we’ve gone for our 45-minute to over an hour walk. Now she loses interest and sometimes doesn’t want to leave the house. I’ve tried taking her to new places for walks and to get her interested again in life but nothing seems

June 17, 2015 No Comments