When to Seek Professional Help for Your Pet’s Anxiety
As pet owners, we want nothing more than to ensure our pets are happy, healthy, and comfortable. Pets can suffer from anxiety, just like humans. This could be caused by external triggers like loud noises or separation from their owners, or even changes in their environment. While some anxiety is a normal part of pet behaviour, persistent or severe anxiety can have a significant impact on a pet’s well-being, leading to behavioural problems, physical health issues, and emotional distress.
Knowing when to seek professional help for your pet’s anxiety is essential in providing the right care. In this blog, we’ll discuss the signs that your pet’s anxiety may require professional intervention and what kind of veterinary support is available.
Recognising the Signs of Anxiety
It’s important to recognise the signs of anxiety in your pet. Pets, especially dogs and cats, may not always show their emotions the same way humans do, but their behaviour can provide important clues. Some common symptoms of anxiety include:
- Excessive barking, whining, or meowing
- Destructive behaviour
- Panting or drooling
- Trembling or shaking
- Hiding or cowering
- Loss of appetite or over-eating
- Litter box issues in cats
If your pet displays any of these signs on a regular basis or if these behaviours seem to be worsening over time, it may be a sign that their anxiety is not something they can cope with on their own.
When to Seek Veterinary Guidance
While mild anxiety may be managed at home with some environmental adjustments and behavioural strategies, there are situations when professional help is crucial.
1. Anxiety Interferes with Daily Life
If your pet’s anxiety is preventing them from enjoying regular activities, such as eating, sleeping, or socialising, it may be time to consider professional help. Chronic anxiety can lead to a decline in quality of life, causing your pet to become withdrawn, fearful, and even depressed.
2. Anxiety Leading to Destructive Behaviour
When anxiety leads to destructive behaviour, such as chewing furniture, scratching carpets, or damaging doors and windows, this could be a sign that the stress your pet is experiencing is significant.
3. Anxiety Resulting in Aggression
Aggressive behaviour in anxious pets can be a serious problem, particularly if your pet becomes aggressive toward other animals or people. Anxiety can sometimes cause pets to act out in fear. This type of aggression is often a protective response to perceived threats.
4. Self-Harm or Physical Symptoms Due to Anxiety
If anxiety is leading to self-harming behaviour (such as excessive licking, scratching, or biting) or causing physical symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, or excessive drooling, professional help should be considered.
5. No Improvement with Home Management Strategies
If you’ve tried basic anxiety management techniques at home, such as creating a safe space, providing calming products, or using desensitisation and counter-conditioning, but your pet’s anxiety persists or worsens, professional help may need to be considered.
6. Anxiety Related to Specific Triggers (e.g., Loud Noises, Separation Anxiety)
Certain triggers, such as loud noises (thunderstorms, fireworks) or separation anxiety (fear of being left alone), may require more specialised care.
Seeking Veterinary Help for Pet Anxiety
Once you’ve decided to seek professional help, there are a few steps your vet may take to help your anxious pet:
1. Comprehensive Evaluation
Our vets will perform a thorough examination of your pet, looking for signs of underlying health conditions that could be contributing to their anxiety. This could include ruling out physical pain, illness, or neurological disorders. Our vets may ask questions about your pet’s environment, routine, and behaviour to gain a full picture of anxiety triggers.
2. Diagnosis of Anxiety Type
If your pet’s anxiety is suspected to be behavioural, our vets may refer you to a qualified veterinary behaviourist for a more detailed evaluation.
3. Treatment Options
Treatment for pet anxiety may involve a combination of approaches:
- Behavioural Therapy: This could include desensitisation and counter-conditioning techniques, which help your pet become less sensitive to anxiety triggers over time.
- Medication: In some cases, your vet may prescribe anti-anxiety medications to help manage your pet’s symptoms. These medications can be especially helpful for severe cases of anxiety and may be used in combination with behavioural therapy.
- Calming Products: Your vet may recommend pheromone diffusers, calming collars, or other products that help reduce anxiety.
Follow-up and Ongoing Support
Managing pet anxiety can take time, and our vets will likely want to schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your pet’s progress and adjust the treatment plan as necessary. Ongoing support, whether through follow-up consultations or recommendations for further behavioural classes, will be key in helping your pet overcome their anxiety.