Stress, Anxiety and Mental Health in Dogs
Canine mental health should be given just as much attention as canine physical wellbeing. Behavioral issues cause a strain on the dog-owner relationship. On one end of the spectrum, it can cause mild irritation, inconvenience, and embarrassment. At the opposite end, it can make abandonment seem like a viable choice.
The good thing is, there are a lot of interventions pet owners can do to prevent the tension from escalating. Fur parents should take the time and effort to attend to their dog’s mental health needs. This involves understanding what those needs are, identifying the ways by which dogs communicate those needs, and replacing problematic behavior with positive ones.
It may not always be easy, but caring for our pooch’s psychological wellbeing is part and parcel of being a responsible pet owner. With consistent effort, time, and a lot of patience, you can minimize behavioral issues and create a happier, more satisfying life for you and your fur buddy.
What is canine mental health?
Mental health is a familiar concept to humans. It involves finding ways to meet our physical, mental, and emotional needs so we can function at our best. It also means learning how to deal with stress in a healthy, constructive way.
The same is true for our four-legged friends, except that they cannot practice self-care. It is up to you as a pet parent to provide for your dog’s needs and teach them acceptable behavior even in the face of stress-triggering stimuli.
Aggression, destruction of furniture, humping, vocalization, and repetitive behavior are some of the manifestations of canine mental health issues. If these incidents happen often and/or result in severe consequences, it is something that must be addressed.
What factors affect canine mental health?
Breed predisposition
For most of our history, dogs have been bred to fulfill specific roles. It’s only been in a few decades since pet ownership has shifted primarily to companionship. As such, you can expect that members of a particular breed will exhibit a temperament that made them effective at fulfilling their original purpose. Dogs bred to protect property may have a stronger “stranger-danger” reflex than others. Dogs bred to herd farm animals will likely need a good amount of exercise and mental stimulation to keep them engaged. Dogs bred to hunt will likely have a high prey drive. While every individual dog is different, it would be prudent to take breed predisposition into account when analyzing their behavior.
Previous experience
Dogs are smart animals who learn from experience. When the consequences of their actions are favorable to them, they will most likely continue repeating the behavior--just like us humans! Problematic behavior could be rooted in a conditioned response, so it is important to pay attention to the way you respond to it. You may be inadvertently reinforcing actions that you do not want your dog to do.
Traumatic experiences are often the root of extreme behavior in dogs. Aggression, distrustfulness, and fear are common--and understandable--reactions to a difficult past. It will take time to undo the damage caused by other humans, but it is possible.
General health
The line between mental health and physical health can get blurry. Pain, hunger, discomfort, and weakness all cause stress, which has an affect on the dog’s state of mind. When dogs are feeling under the weather, there’s a higher likelihood of abrupt changes in behavior. They may snap at a loved one, prefer to be alone, or lose interest in things that typically excite them.
Situational factors
There are some dogs who consistently exhibit problematic behavior under a very specific set of circumstances. Learning what your dog’s triggers are requires observation skills and pattern recognition. There are some that are common among many pooches--the loud boom of fireworks, the discomfort of a nail trim, being left alone in a strange place, or the presence of another dog in heat. These can cause stress, fear, or excitement, and a correspondingly strong response.
What to do to maintain your dog’s mental health
Provide mental and physical stimulation.
One of the common reasons dogs act up is simply because they’re bored. When dogs have no mental or physical stimulation, their energy has nowhere to go. They will eventually find an outlet for it, and it may manifest as destroyed furniture or maimed laundry.
The key to solving this is to channel that energy to safer and more constructive pursuits. Incorporate exercise into your dog’s daily routine and stick to it as consistently as possible. Whether it’s a game of fetch, a walk around the block, or a few minutes spent learning a new trick, it’s important to meet their need for stimulation everyday. Do research on the exercise requirements of your dog’s breed and adjust the intensity of the activity accordingly. The great thing is, time spent bonding with your dog is not just great for your dog’s mental health, but yours too!
Enroll in a dog training class.
The best way to cross the canine-human language barrier is to enroll in a dog training class. Training allows you to learn the many subtle ways that your dog communicates with you, and the most effective way to communicate back to them. It requires a lot of time and a lot of patience, but the rewards will last you a lifetime.
While the basic commands that can easily be taught at home with practice and consistency, mental health issues are another matter. These will require the expertise of a professional dog trainer. Choose someone who has had experience handling dogs with the same problems, and shares the same values as you do when it comes to animal welfare. But hiring a dog trainer to take the lead in directing the sessions does not mean the owner can sit on their laurels and just watch the show. It is important that fur parents take an active role in their dog’s training journey. So pay attention, be observant, and do the tasks assigned to you by the trainer.
Minimize exposure to triggers.
If you can avoid what stresses your dog out, always take that option. This is particularly important when your dog hasn’t quite mastered their training yet. Constant and prolonged exposure may set back their progress even more.
Minimizing exposure to triggers means knowing what those triggers are. The most fool-proof way to do this is to learn how to recognize a stress response. Majority of dogs will show some sort of warning sign before they act out. Look for clues such as a sudden tensing up of the body, raised hackles, bared teeth, or a low growl. Before things escalate, remove them from the situation and help them calm down. Talk to them calmly and pet them if they allow you to.
Take your dog to the vet.
Symptoms of disease and injury can easily be confused with psychological problems. Take your dog to the vet for a thorough examination and give as much detail as you can about what you’ve been noticing. If a health issue has been found, proper treatment will likely solve the problematic behavior.
Age-related issues are also common reasons for changes in behavior. The dulling of the senses can cause senior pooches to be easily scared of things that they didn’t mind before. Painful degenerative conditions such as arthritis may also take a toll on their psychological well being. The doctor will likely prescribe maintenance medications and pain relievers to help with the discomfort. They may suggest alternative therapies, shifting to a low-impact exercise, or changes to the home environment to accommodate their geriatric needs.
Consider calming supplements.
Dogs with severe mental health issues may need medications to help keep them calm. Vets may prescribe this as a last resort option, often in conjunction with professional dog training and desensitization therapy. While effective, chronic use of anti-anxiety drugs may have a long-term effect on the liver and kidneys. Sticking to the prescribed protocol and visiting the vet regularly will help minimize these dangerous side effects.
If your dog suffers from situational anxiety, you might consider giving herbal supplements to help them get through a stressful situation. This may be used a few hours before New Year’s Eve or 4th of July celebrations to help ease the distress from loud firecrackers, or prior to long haul flights and travel.
Cannabidiol and hemp oil are some natural-based remedies. There are also ready-made canine calming supplements manufactured by trusted brands. While many of these can be purchased over the counter, be sure to consult your vet before administering anything to your dog.
Conclusion
Canine mental health is an important aspect of their wellbeing that is often overlooked. Incorporating activities into their daily routine that are specifically geared towards mental stimulation and physical exercise is crucial. Once they know that their needs will be met consistently, they will learn to wait patiently for the appointed play time.
But stress is an unavoidable part of life. The best you can do as a pet owner is to recognize the signs of tension, and determine the best way to reduce it. Whether it’s visiting to the vet to find out what’s wrong, enrolling in a dog training class to teach more appropriate behavior, or removing your dog from the triggering situation, it’s ultimately up to you as the fur parent to make the best decision.