Understanding and treating pet anxiety

BY: ALANA HOLT

Staff Photographer

Dogs get anxiety, too. A 2018 study by ThunderWorks found that 80 percent of dog- and cat-owning families have seen signs of some form of anxiety in their pet.

Loud noises, such as thunder or fireworks, and separation are the most com m on causes of anxiety in pets. Traveling, being around other animals, and crates are among other causes of pet anxieties. It is important to recognize signs of anxiety in your dog so that you can understand your pet and find a way to successfully comfort them.

According to the American Kennel Club, symptoms of anxiety include: aggression, using the bathroom in the house, drooling, panting, destructive behavior, depression, excessive barking, pacing and repetitive behavior.

There are also symptoms of anxiety that can often be misinterpreted at something else such as constant yawning, licking their lips, or incessantly wagging their tale.

Rover blogger Heather Logue suggests puzzle toys, long-lasting chew s, a crate (depending on the dog and the amount of crate training they've had), a comfy bed and positive reinforcement to help comfort your dog and prevent further anxiety.

But a solution that seems most recommended is the ThunderShirt by ThunderWorks, which wraps around your dog's, or even cat's, torso and provides a calming pressure.

Reyna Robles has a 3-year-old Yorkie named Sailor Baylor. She and her pup moved from Texas to Kansas. Robles's family resides in Texas, so when it came time to visit, she'd load up Sailor Baylor for the 9-hour drive. She noticed that he had travel anxiety because he would shake uncontrollably, try to pace in his crate and even throw up in the car after about an hour.

Robles bought Sailor a ThunderShirt from thundershirt.com and his shaking significantly decreased. After the second trip they made with him wearing it, he stopped throw ing up.

"After about five trips, when I noticed he was doing much better in them, I tried letting him ride without it and he does great now — he sleeps the whole time," Robles said.

ThunderWorks also provides other solutions such as calming chews, caps, and aromatherapy.

And there's an app for that — TrainAway, founded by Kevin Henry and Kris Lawson in 2018, is a mobile app for Android and iPhone users that lets pet owners play triggering sounds for their dog at safe, low volumes. TrainAway was designed to desensitize pets from noises that trigger their anxiety with over 100 professionally or self-recorded sounds, such as doorbells, thunder or fireworks, in a semi-random pattern, according to PetPR. The founders are currently working on a function so that pet owners can connect it to a treat dispenser.

If you've noticed your pet may have anxiety, these are just a handful of potential solutions to help calm them and aren't necessarily a one size fits all because our pets all have unique personalities. For more information to keep your fur family safe and relaxed during any situation, please visit the follow ing websites:

rover.com/ blog/what-can-i-give-dogfor-anxiety/

thundershirt.com

akc.org/ expert-advice/ health/treating -dog-anxiety/et

Twitter: @alana_holt

Three-year-old Yorkie Sailor Bayor's travel anxiety has been eased thanks to the ThunderShirt his human, Reyna Robles bought.

Photo by Reyna Robles.