Holistic Options for Anxious Dogs

What is Anxiety in Dogs?

In today’s society, anxiety is a common epidemic found in people, but now we are also seeing it first hand in our pets. It is a disorder that many pet owners, as well as their pets, face during all times of the year. It is important to determine why your dog is suffering from anxiety and figure out ways to help calm them down naturally to bring them back to a state of harmony. Anxiety is explained as “a general term for several disorders that cause nervousness, fear, apprehension, and worrying. These disorders affect how we feel and behave and can cause physical symptoms”. When a person or animal has anxiety or fear their autonomic nervous system produces the flight or flight hormone, otherwise known as cortisol.

Examples of Anxiety in Dogs

• Excessive barking
• Trembling
• Panting
• Hiding
• Loss of Appetite
• Destructive Behavior
• Looking for an Escape
• Tail Tucking
• GI Issues (diarrhea, vomiting)
• Aggressive Behavior(biting, nipping, snapping)
• Chewing, Biting or Licking body parts
• Urinating Indoors
• Excessive Energy
• Panic Attacks

Reasons for Anxiety in Dogs

• Traumatic Experience/PTSD/Abandonment
• Loud Noises(fireworks, thunderstorms, vacuums)
• Separation Anxiety
• Illness or Disease
• Toxic Environment
• Prescription Drug Side Effects
• Pain
• Nature of the Breed
• Aging
• Unfamiliar Social Situations(dog park, dog daycare, dog boarding, the vet)

Ways to Help Your Dog

There are alternative ways to help calm an anxious dog besides medication. In severe cases it might be the smartest option at the time, however with proper maintenance and care, most dogs can manage their anxiety with holistic solutions.

Exercise

Getting your dogs endorphins going, just like humans, is a wonderful way to ease anxiety and stress. Exercise also helps produce healthy amounts of serotonin in the brain and helps get rid of tension and pent up energy. It is also a healthy way to distract a dog from their temporary disorder and make them feel happier and  healthier. If you work long hours or want to give your dog some extra TLC while you are gone throughout the day, hiring a trusted dog walker can be very beneficial for an anxious dog. It breaks up the time spent apart from you and gives them an extra mental and physical activity throughout the day. We provide one on one walks, playtime and spending quality time with your dog while you’re during the day or on vacation.

Hydrotherapy & Swimming

Water therapy is another form of exercise, but it can also be very calming and healing at the same time. The weightlessness of the water provides a safe environment for your dog and reduces the risk of a land based activity. If your dog is fearful of water, putting your trust into an experienced and certified hydrotherapist can make a world of a difference. They are equipped to handle such cases and know how to successfully turn your dogs fear into success. Our sister company Dip’n Dogs Hydrotherapy, provides therapy and exercise to dogs of all ages, breeds, conditions and behaviors. Hydrotherapy has many benefits on not just the mental health in dogs, but also their physical aspect as well. Here is a link to another discussion, explaining why hydrotherapy is worth it for dogs with any type of disease (mental or physical).

Massage

A calming massage works wonders for a dog whose been uptight and stressed. Just as humans, massage helps release tension and clear any energy blocks in the body. Lastly, make sure you do your research and choose a certified and licensed canine massage therapist ONLY to work on your dog.

Fun Brain & Body Activities:

• Use a Flirt Pole
• Play Tug of War With Your Dog
• Play Frisbee With Your Dog
• Create Your Own Agility Course
• Use Kong Stuffing & Food Dispensing Toys
• Teach Your Dog to Chase Bubbles
• Play Find the Treats With Your Dog
• Play Hide & Seek

Training

Behavior modification and desensitization is a process, and is best done with the help of a professional. A positive reinforcement trainer or animal behaviorist who has experience working with anxious dogs is the best option to choose. We recommend a local trainer, Jessica, with the National Academy for Dogs, who we have seen first hand, really help dogs. She is very knowledgeable as well as caring and compassionate.

Holistic Supplements

One of my favorite suggestions I offer to all of my clients is the miraculous CBD oil. Dog owners who inquire about CBD oil have all different types of reasons for doing so. Most of these paw parents are searching for a holistic approach to help and heal their pet. CBD oil is known to be the main ingredient in many treatment options that provide internal as well as external care for humans and pets. It is also available in many different forms such as edibles, tincture, oils or even creams. Here are many different uses for CBD oil and health conditions that can benefit from it:

• Arthritis
• Aggressiveness/Temper
• Seizures
• Cancer Symptoms
• Appetite Loss
• General Anxiety
• Separation Anxiety
• Inflammation After Surgery
• Managing Pain
• Depression
• High Stress

Purchase it here at WALKNDOGS.com

Here at Walk’n Dogs, we retail for a local organic company who provides a few different types of CBD Oil for pets and humans. Shop here -We offer small, medium and large breed oil tinctures as well as a standard human CBD tincture. KONO Naturals CBD oil is as stated above, to be a 100% THC free organic grade Phytocannabinoid Hemp oil. It is organically farmed with a non-GMO formula and is pesticide and residual solvent free. We always hear amazing results from customers, so why not be apart of it all… Long live happy and healthy pets!

About Walk’n Dogs – A Dog Walking Company | Maitland, FL

Rachel has been working in the Pet Care Industry for the last few years and started her career in a local Canine Health & Fitness Center that also incorporated canine hydrotherapy, dog daycare & boarding. While working at Rocky’s Retreat, under the previous ownership of Sherri Cappabianca and Toby Gass, Rachel became certified in canine hydrotherapy and they taught her everything she knows about canine care, hydrotherapy, health and fitness.

Rachel is currently the owner/founder of Dip’n Dogs Canine Hydrotherapy and Walk’n Dogs – A Dog Walking Service in the Orlando, FL area. Dip’n Dogs provides water therapy for dogs with any orthopedic condition, degenerative disease, injury or obesity. Walk’n Dogs provides in-home visits for dog walking, pet sitting, pet taxi and pet errands. Each service is customized to fit each dog and their needs. Rachel caters to the Winter Park, Baldwin Park, Maitland, College Park, Altamonte Springs and Casselberry, FL areas.

Rachel is also the owner and dog mom to her two beagles, Leo and Lola.