Content
- 1. Hyperactivity
- 2. Appearance of stereotypes
- 3. Overreactions
- 4. Salivation and licking
- 4. Lack of attention
- 6. Panting excessively
- 7. Reactivity or leakage
- 8. Hair loss
- 9. Muscle rigidity
- 10. Behavior changes
- How to help a stressed dog
There are some very clear signs that can alert us if our dog is suffering from stress. If you suspect that your best friend might be going through a bad situation, we recommend that you keep reading this from PeritoAnimal.
Let's show you the 10 Signs of Stress in Dogs which, individually or jointly, can translate into a serious health problem that directly affects your well-being and sometimes even your health.
Don't let more time pass and find out if your dog is suffering from stress and how you can help him.
1. Hyperactivity
It is common for stressed dogs to have hyperactive behavior. Are unable to be calm and, in the long run, they can start biting furniture and any utensils they find in front of them to release accumulated tension.
2. Appearance of stereotypes
The stereotypes are constant repetitive movements that the dog carries out without a determined end. There are many types of stereotypies: we can see dogs that bite their tails, that hunt invisible animals, that bark incessantly... They are repetitive and incessant habits.
3. Overreactions
Maybe your dog already barked a little too much, ate everything he sees in front of him, things from the ground or maybe he reacted to the presence of other dogs in the past. Regardless of your habits, if you see yours now more intense behavior, you must be aware that in a stressed dog the reactions are intensified.
4. Salivation and licking
If you see that your dog is licks and saliva exaggeratedly it will be essential to understand if it is a habit that you carry out repetitively and constantly, or not. This is one of the signs of stress in the dog that you should be aware of.
4. Lack of attention
Stressed dogs suffer from a generalized nervousness, which makes it difficult for them to concentrate, pay attention, follow our obedience orders... However, if your dog shows a general lack of attention and since always (not just now that you're stressed), you could check with your veterinarian if it's an attention deficit problem.
6. Panting excessively
Panting is the tool dogs use to expel body heat. If you see your puppy panting in situations where he should be calm, he is likely to be stressed and need to relieve the tension he feels. Sometimes panting can be accompanied by sounds of sadness and lamentation.
7. Reactivity or leakage
The dog usually feels stressed very uncomfortable in the face of an unknown situation or that is causing you stress. If, for example, your dog suffers from stress when meeting other dogs, each of these encounters will cause him to overreact. This will make you try to run away or react very negatively to this stimulus (be it a person, an environment, an object or a specific situation).
8. Hair loss
Hair loss usually occurs in chronic stress cases, in which the dog begins to feel physically affected by the situation he is suffering. If you see that your dog starts to lose fur out of sheer anxiety, you should consult the veterinarian as soon as possible. You can also lose hair from compulsive licking or pulling hair directly with your teeth. Act as soon as possible, your dog sends you emergency signals.
9. Muscle rigidity
Especially in situations where they cause you stress, you can watch the dog more tense and rigid than usual. It is customary to watch the tail and extremities in tension, waiting for something significant to happen.
10. Behavior changes
We ended the list with a common problem: behavior changes. It is very common for dogs that suffer from stress to start to develop behaviors that they had never shown, such as aggressiveness, shyness, depression, phobias... But instead of showing them in concrete situations, they start to do it in a generalized way. This is one of the most telling signs of stress in the dog.
How to help a stressed dog
If you believe your puppy is too stressed, we recommend that you consult an ethologist or dog educator as soon as possible. Both professionals can help and guide you with useful advice and tips for your case. In addition, they can help you identify the cause that is causing your dog stress.
However, if you've noticed any of these 10 signs of dog stress, we recommend that you read our other article to find out what to do if your dog is stressed. Discover some advice to improve your well-being as well as some very useful tricks that will help you channel your nervousness.
