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For both dogs and cats, it’s their most common health concern. But dogs and cats can be incredibly skilled at hiding the signs of anxiety and stress.
So I thought I’d help you step inside their mind and decode the messages they’re actually sending us every single day. So here are the signs they’re struggling...
The Obvious Warnings:
Barking (or howling): Your neighbours will usually be quick to share this one. That high pitched repetitive barking is a classic sign of separation anxiety while howling is an instinctive way of reaching out to other furry brothers and sisters to try and ease that loneliness.
Destruction: The scratches on the door frame, the chewed up shoes or even the cushion that’s been shredded into a snow storm. These are all signs they’re not coping when you’re out of the house.
The Secret Signs:
Going off their food (or bringing it back up): This seems to surprise a lot of pet parents. But coming home to either a full bowl of food or a rather spectacular vomit are both big anxiety warning signs. It's when the thought of missing you actually makes them physically (and emotionally) sick...
The wet patch: Often discovered a few hours after the incident, this toilet accident often gives a clue as to their frantic and stressed state when it happened. Calm dogs and cats control their bladder, anxious pets often don’t.
The side eye: This quirky look when you get home might look cheeky, but it really says ‘I’m not proud of how I acted when you were gone’. It implies some quite significant worrying has been happening.
The yawn: This is a big surprise. But that yawn often doesn’t mean they’re tired. It means they’re caught in a moment of inner conflict. So if it’s just before you leave the house for work, it means they’re worried about being left alone.
So what can you do?
STEP ONE: Exercise is key!
This not only gets the endorphins flowing but also lowers their blood pressure and anxiety levels.
STEP TWO: Help them chew
It’s their instinctive way to calm themselves and self-soothe. So make sure you provide some toys or treats with different textures they can slowly work through to help occupy that mind.
STEP THREE: Bring calm to the chaos
Some really significant progress has been made in supplements recently. My go-to is L-theanine, which brings the calm to being separated, to thunderstorms and even reduces reactive barking. You’ll find L-theanine (and chamomile) in my Drool Calm + Collected treats.
