News You Can Use
Canine Anxiety
Canine Anxiety
by Cheyenne Pratt, Veterinary Technician, Calico Creek Veterinary Clinic
Dogs can experience anxiety just like we can. Anxiety is a mental condition that causes excessive fear and stress, usually leading to behavioral issues in dogs. While some breeds are genetically predisposed to anxiety, there are multiple reasons a dog may develop it. The most common types of canine anxiety are separation, fear, and aggression. Anxiety can stem from sudden life changes, past experiences, trauma, aging, and even underlying health conditions. Signs of canine anxiety include destructive behavior, excessive barking or whining, aggression, panting, drooling, pacing / restlessness and urinating / defecating in the house. May 5th- 11th is Dog Anxiety Awareness week. This observance day began as a way to educate people about canine anxiety and the importance of a dog’ s emotional well-being.
If you suspect your dog has anxiety, talk to your veterinarian first. Your vet will be able rule out health issues, diagnose anxiety, and discuss the best options for helping your dog. Do not punish your dog for anxious behavior. There are a number of methods to help with canine anxiety. Counter conditioning is a common strategy used for fear anxiety. It works by moving the dog away from a situation that is causing anxiety until they are relaxed, then you will command the dog to sit and praise them. This helps the dog to relate a normally fearful situation with a positive experience. Desensitization is another effective type of training. With this technique, you repeatedly expose your dog to their anxiety trigger in small intervals, while rewarding positive behavior. Regular exercise is especially important for anxious dogs because it helps burn off extra energy and reduces stress and anxiety. If you’ re struggling with your dog’ s anxiety, you may need to reach out to a canine behaviorist or trainer. Severe cases may require a prescription medication from your veterinarian, but keep in mind, medication is not a“ fix all” and can have negative effects too. Medication alone usually does not cure anxiety and works best in conjunction with behavior training. You can help prevent canine anxiety by socializing your dog as a puppy to get them used to seeing new people, places, and things. Obedience training helps your dog build confidence so they don ' t develop fear anxiety. Keeping your dog on a routine also helps reduce anxiety.
If your dog is suffering from anxiety, be understanding and patient. It takes time to overcome a mental condition and every dog is different. If you do not manage your dog’ s anxiety, it could lead to physical health problems, just as it can with people.
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Recalls:
Blue Ridge Beef, Virginia: Recalling its Blue Ridge Puppy Mix 2 pound logs and Blue Ridge Beef Kitten Mix, due to contamination of Salmonella and Listeria. Info: 704-873-2072.( 4 / 1 // 25)
Supercan, Florida: Recalling one lot of its Bully Sticks Pig Ears Slivers – Thick Cut Piggy Ear Slices pet treats, due to Salmonella contamination. Info:( 689) 808-5419.( 4 / 1 / 25)
Petdine Blue Ridge Beef, Colorado: Recalling eight different Zesty Paws Soft Chews treats and supplements products, due to a potential contamination of Salmonella. Info: 833-273-8346.( 2 / 17 / 25)
Blue Ridge Beef, Virginia: Recalling its 2 pound log of Natural Mix for Dogs, due to potential Salmonella contamination. Lot number: N25 / 12 / 31 Info: blueridgebeefnc @ yahoo. com or call 704-873-2072.( 1 / 31 / 25)
Blue Ridge Beef, Virginia: Recalling its Puppy Mix after some of its products tested positive for Salmonella. Lot numbers 08 / 06 / N25 and 08 / 16 / N25. Info: 704-873-2072.( 12 / 2 / 24)
Carolina Prime Pet, Inc., North Carolina: Recalling 16-ounce bags of Hollywood Feed Carolina Made Chicken Chips treats for dogs- possible Salmonella contamination. Lot number 20051324L2. Info: 828- 394-6460.( 11 / 25 / 24)
Source: dogfoodadvisor. com, amva. org
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