Anxiety in Dogs: Triggers, Supplements & How Gut Health Affects Behavior

More Than Behavior Problems

Do you ever find that your dog paces, barks, or destroys things when they are left alone at home? Although this can be very frustrating, these behaviors are usually more than just annoying acts of defiance. It is more than likely that it is anxiety that your dog is experiencing. 

Similarly to humans, anxiety in dogs is a genuine physiological and psychological condition that they cannot help experiencing when put under certain triggering conditions. Your dog can have a multitude of triggers that may lead to unpleasant behavior problems and persistent negative symptoms. These behaviors and symptoms can be extremely heartbreaking or frustrating to have to see and experience as a dog owner. This article will go over these potential triggers, common symptoms, will explain the connection between the gut and the brain, and teach you what steps you can actually take to help alleviate anxiety in dogs.

What Causes Anxiety in Most Dogs?

There are three main categories of canine anxiety that most common triggers and signs fall under: 

1. Separation anxiety (unhealthily codependency with their owner)

2. Fear-based anxiety (specific causes of fear / phobias)

3. Generalized anxiety (generally anxious dog because of environment or innate predisposition to anxiety)

How Do I Know If My Dog Has Anxiety?

Because most dogs have so many individualistic quirks and oddball mannerisms that make them unique in the first place, it can sometimes be hard to know when they are truly feeling anxious and we commonly believe that these mannerisms are just part of the way dogs are. What many fail to realise is that these characteristics can often be tell-tale signs of canine anxiety. Please take note, however, that some signs can overlap with medical problems, so be sure to rule out physical health issues first to be safe before writing this signs off as anxiety symptoms.

10 Signs Your Dog May Be Anxious:

1. Excessive or constant barking

2. Destructive problems / behaviors or soiling the house

3. Tail chasing

4. Lip licking

5. Aggressive and/or clingy behavior

6. Calming signals (shaking off or turning head away)

7. Tucked tail

8. Whale eye (turning head away but keeping eyes on you and showing the whites of the eye)

9. Yawning 

10. Panting

Separation Anxiety in Dogs: A Closer Look

Separation anxiety is the most common form of anxiety for dogs, as dogs can be very codependent creatures. Separation anxiety is triggered when an owner whom the dog is extremely attached to leaves the home, thus causing the dog to become overly anxious when left alone at the house. Many times a dog will learn to read pre departure cues that they have memorized from the routine you partake in just before leaving the house. For instance, your dog may start to display anxious behaviors when they see you grab your keys, bag, or begin to put on your shoes, because they know these are precursors to you leaving and they are familiar with what happens next after these warning signs take place.

These forms of anxious behaviors can affect dogs of all ages, not just rescue dogs or shelter dogs with abandonment issues as one might tend to think is the case. There are some different signs that your dog is in the early stages vs. already experiencing a severe case of separation anxiety. In the early stages, early indicators often present as subtle signs of discomfort shortly after you leave, typically resolving or remaining at a manageable level. In more severe cases, however, separation anxiety represents a true canine panic attack. This means that the dog is genuinely terrified and is operating in a state of high alarm, and this typically takes place within the first 10 to 20 minutes of being left.

If your dog is experiencing signs of mild separation anxiety, this can most likely be handled with at-home management. If your dog is showing signs of severe separation anxiety, however, this may be when professional help is needed AKA a visit to the vet.

Can Gut Health Affect My Dog's Anxiety?

YES–the gut-brain axis is real in dogs just as it is in humans. The gut has its own special network of neurons that communicates directly with the brain. When your dog experiences an imbalance in their gut microbiome, this then disrupts serotonin production, as surprisingly 90%+ of serotonin is made in the gut. Because of this, dogs with digestive issues often show heightened stress responses — and vice versa.

Because of this gut-mind connection, supporting a healthy gut microbiome can potentially have a calming effect beyond digestion. Although gut health is certainly not a cure-all for anxiety, it is still a meaningful piece of the puzzle that may alleviate the issue some. It is worth a shot to try improving your dog’s digestive health to see if this helps alleviate their anxiety symptoms.

See our collection for digestion

What Are the Best Natural Supplements for Dog Anxiety?

There are many routes one can take when it comes to natural supplementation for anxiety. Common dog anxiety supplements you may hear of or see include L-theanine (tends to relax without causing drowsiness), alpha-casozepine (derived from milk to soothe nerves), and probiotics such as Bifidobacterium longum that balance the gut-brain axis. Other natural options include L-tryptophan, melatonin, and CBD. 

Before you commit to having your dog take any supplements, be sure to consult with your vet first. There are a few things you should keep an eye out for on the label of a calming supplement. Do your due diligence for your pup by making sure the product has ingredient transparency, contains no fillers, and is appropriate for your dog's size. 

Please keep in mind, however, that supplements almost always work best alongside behavior modification and not just as a standalone, one and done fix. There are also FDA-approved medications that exist for severe cases, but you should get guidance from your vet as to whether this is the best option for your pup before heading down that route.

Check out our Qusera Dog Calming Treats, a clean, targeted option for dog anxiety

Behavioral Modifications That Can Actually Help Your Dog

Here are some actions you can take at home to start working with your pup to help your dog cope with their anxiety:

• Positive reinforcement training sessions: Try rewarding calm behavior and not anxious dog behavior.

• Desensitization: Gradually expose your dog to their triggers (e.g., noise phobias, car rides), possibly positively reinforcing with treats and/or affection so they associate the trigger with good things. 

• Safe space: Give them crate training, a quiet room, and/or white noise.

• Mental stimulation: You can distract them with a mentally engaging activity like puzzle feeders or training sessions to keep their anxious mind occupied.

• Physical contact and routine: Dogs thrive on predictability so create a consistent schedule to reduce anticipatory anxiety.

• Pre-departure cue neutralization: Practice leaving without actually leaving to break the association they have with your pre departure ritual and anxiety.

When Should I See a Veterinarian About My Dog's Anxiety?

If you are seeing major red flags in your dog’s behavior such as fear-based aggression, self-harm, inability to function (won't eat, drink, or settle) with your dog, it may be time to see a vet about your dog’s anxiety. A veterinary behaviorist is the highest level of specialist and is worth it to see for severe and unresponsive cases. 

The vet may prescribe some commonly used medications for anxiety such as SSRIs, anti anxiety medications, or situational meds; although the treatment plan is almost always a multimodal system, including: behavior modification, supplements, and medication if needed. Please note that cognitive dysfunction in senior dogs can also mimic anxiety but this still calls for required medical evaluation, so a vet should be visited either way.

Building a Calmer Dog: Long-Term Approach

Do not be discouraged if anxiety management is not always a quick fix. Managing canine anxiety can be hard work full of trial and error, and this can lead some people to give up. It is important that you do not give up just because one method is not giving you the results you want to see right away. 

Ideally, your plan for helping your pup should include a combination of behavioral modification, bettering their gut health, using targeted supplements, and seeking veterinary support. Work towards small consistent wins as opposed to some magical change over night. Dog owners who stick with a consistent plan see better results over weeks and months. 

Nusentia is here to help dog owners by supporting physical health as a foundation for behavioral wellbeing by providing you with reputable nutritional tools with years of experience, such as our digestive formulas and anxiety supplement. 

Anxiety in Dogs Is Manageable

As we have learned, anxiety in dogs can take the shape of many forms and every dog experiences it a little differently. It can be caused by a wide variety of triggers, so it is important to take note of what kind of stimulations prelude your dog’s anxiety symptoms. Luckily, there are multiple paths to relief, some of which you can follow at home and some that require extra assistance from your vet or a behavioral specialist. 

One great place to start is with your dog’s gut health, a lesser-known, but powerful lever. Try our digestive remedies or our anxiety chews to help your dog’s gut-mind connection and get one step closer to a calmer dog.