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Stress and anxiety can affect your furry pal and his daily activities. When disturbed or uncomfortable, he will stop enjoying his daily walking routine in the neighborhood. That’s why you need to figure out different techniques to relieve his tension so he can have fun. Many remedies are available, from natural to prescription medications and more. You can pick and apply them on your doggie to notice his response. Before going forward, it’s critical to understand the types of situations, which can be taxing for your furry friend.
- What can induce anxiety in your pet dog?
You can divide your pet’s anxiety into two broad types, such as situational and behavioral. Behavioral anxiety can be an ongoing concern triggered by separation issues. Most dogs (about 14%) suffer from this. These dogs cannot stay alone at home or away from their owners. You can notice signs of stress in them when you are ready to step out of the house. There can be other reasons also for behavioral changes, such as abuse, new environment/ home, old trauma, loss of a beloved one, etc.
On the other hand, situational anxiety can occur when they encounter any specific situation, such as loud noise, thunderstorms, fireworks, car travel, vet visits, etc. Some dogs succumb to chronic anxiety or fear due to extra vaccination. For example, a dog with rabies may have to take several injections. Stress can also affect dogs as they age due to cognitive disorders. That’s why you must take special care of senior dogs when taking them to the vet clinic. Signs of stress in your pet can sometimes be visible; at other times, you may have to watch him closely. The common symptoms include barking, licking, aggression, chewing, restlessness, crying, loss of appetite, panting, and shaking.
Because a visit to the vet clinic is unavoidable and your pet may become anxious, you may want to know how to make your dog feel less stressed. So here are some measures for calming a dog.
- Pheromone products
Pheromone is a chemical compound released by a lactating dog to calm her pups. So, dogs tend to be familiar with this smell. Nowadays, many synthetic products in the market mimic the original chemical. These include collars, sprays, diffusers, etc.
You can make your pet wear the collar to get the familiar smell that will soothe his anxiety or restlessness. Sprays are portable. You can spray his stuff with the select product to create a sense of ease and familiarity in your dog when driving him to the clinic. Avoid using this directly on your pet. Even his belongings you spray with this solution should stay away from him for a few minutes before exposure. Then, many pet parents use pheromone diffusers at home to keep the environment soothing for their dogs. You can also get this. But for vet visits, a collar and spray can be more helpful.
You can use this trick to calm your dog when going to the vet. If you have to wait, keep him on your lap or hold him close to you. Engage with him to distract his attention from the surroundings.
- Natural remedies
Herbs, essential oils, and Bach flower essences can help calm your furry pet. In essential oil, you can pick violet leaves and lavender. Or, you can mix different oils to soothe his fears. You can combine rose hydrosol, lavender, vetiver, violet leaf, and neroli for separation anxiety. Exposure to loud noises can also make him fearful. You can mix hops, cornflower hydrosol, rose otto, and frankincense. You can use violet leaf, frankincense, linden blossom, hemp, and roman chamomile if it’s general anxiety.
You can take five drops each to blend them with carrier oil measuring 2-3 oz. The choice of carrier oil can be apricot kernel or almond. You can spray the mixture on your pet’s blanket or bed. You can also sprinkle it in the air when you take him to the doctor. However, be sure it doesn’t make him uncomfortable. You cannot use essential oil directly on your dog, like pheromone spray.
Another natural solution can be Bach’s flower essence to restore his emotional equilibrium. Some believe these non-toxic and gentle solutions can reduce stress and calm his anxiety. And there isn’t a risk of overdosing on them. Pick any essence that works on your pet’s fears and anxiety. You can find these effective even when you must take him to the vet. It can be reliable in almost any situation.
Then, some pet parents swear by herbs, which can be available as tea, capsules, and tinctures. You get plenty of them on the market. If your dog is nervous, you can give him chamomile. It can come in handy even when you put him in the car for a medical visit. The sedative effect of this gentle herb will keep him relaxed. It can also benefit his motion sickness. If you find your dog getting over excitable, valerian can be the safe and gentle choice to calm your pet’s nerves. It will soothe him physically.
- Music
Can you play just about anything? The studies demonstrate that classical music can be more favorable for the dog’s emotional health. Although yet to prove the effects of a specific type of music on your dog’s stress, some studies show you can use classical versions to keep your pet calm during vet visits. Still, you can experiment with different options and observe your pet’s behavior and body language to determine what works for him.
- Medication
You get OTC and prescribed medications for your dog’s anxiety. But these can be the last resort. It will be better to consult your vet before doing anything. The vet should know if you give him pheromones, CBD oils, calming chewable, or other supplements. Different types of anti-anxiety medicines are available. Here are some of them:
- Benadryl
This antihistamine medication treats allergies. Dogs usually feel drowsy after the dose. Due to this feature, it becomes a good source for treating mild anxiety in your pet. FDA has approved its usage because it is less harmful. If you have to visit the vet, administer this drug to help him manage his phobia. You get this in pill and liquid forms. The best would be pills, which you can give him with food or alone. The medication can cause increased heart rate, drooling, and panting.
- Dexmedetomidine
Another option for situation anxiety, like loud noises and vet clinic visits, is this mild sedative that can control the discharge of stress hormones like noradrenaline. You can apply this medicine to your pet’s gums and cheeks. A dog cannot swallow it. Give this drug before or immediately after the onset of the anxiety symptoms, such as aggression, urination, etc. It doesn’t cause side effects, but incidents of vomiting, drowsiness, and urination can occur.
- Diazepam
It is a tranquilizer and anticonvulsant that can stimulate your pet’s appetite, relax his muscles, and so on. One can give this in case of panic disorders also. Common side effects include weakness, confusion, salivation, high appetite, sedation, and increased heart rate. Avoid this medicine if your dog is pregnant.
- Alprazolam
This prescription medication offers calming effects, which can help handle situational anxiety. You can find this in both liquid and tablet form. You can give it without food also. Ensure the dog gets this medicine about half an hour to one hour before encountering the stressful event. Your pet can feel sedated, lethargic, etc.
- Other things to take care of to control your dog’s stress related to the vet visit
Two stages of preparation are involved in your pet’s trip to the clinic – before and same day. Try to acclimatize your pet to the routine. Create a relaxed environment for physical examination at home. Do this frequently. When you examine his skin, feet, and eyes, make him comfortable and familiarize him with the process. You can reward your dog for his good behavior with toys or treats. If you do this occasionally, the dog might be less anxious during an actual vet visit. You can try this method even with older dogs. Just keep patience. Another thing you can do is take your pet to the clinic without any reason also. It’s natural for them to feel anxious if they only go to that place during pain or sickness.
Since vet visits also include car travel, this becomes another stressor for your dog. So, build travel habits in them. Also, carry essentials like leashes, medications, and other things. You will want to observe his activities when the actual day has come. If he already shows signs of fear and stress in the car, spend time with him instead of going to the waiting room. Once he is at ease, you can take him inside. But allow him to sniff around the place for its comfort.
Every pet parent faces this problem, and your situation may not be unique, either. Start with safe methods to reduce your dog’s fears about vet visits. And also take guidance from the vet.
