Stress puts dog's body in
constant state of alert
by Nicole Mackie
STRESS can be almost anything that makes our dogs react to a physical or emotional stimulus. Put another way by anything that creates a state of arousal or alarm in the dog’s body. What may seem just a small trivial situation to us, may be a very serious or fearful situation for our dog.
Stress places our dog’s body in a state of fight or flight. This is a state of emergency. The dog may be prepared to attack what may be threatening; to run away from the situation; or just go into a state of fear and panic.
Problems arise when the dog is constantly threatened and challenged and does not get sufficient rest and sleep to recuperate. The dog then lives in a constant state of emergency and stress-related problems begin to arise.
Signs of stress:
Barking
Tired low energy dog
Hair raised
Stiff body language
Wide eyes
Look of terror in eyes
Dilated pupils
Hiding from situation
Using a barrier
Chewing
Sweaty paws
Dandruff
Hair loss\alopecia
Rolling over
Salivation
Exhaustion
Warning signals
Anxiety
Eye colour change
Whites of eyes showing
Teeth baring
May bite
Growling
Destructive
Barking
Whining
Running away
Unable to be left
Unable to think
Unable to hear
Unable to be trained
Reverts back to old habits
Unable to keep still
Unable to relax or rest
Cannot cope with situations
Lowered immune system
Shut down
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Urinating more than usual
Diarrhoea
Salivation
Strong calming signals
Digestive problems
Red eyes
Behaviour problems
Allergies\food sensitivities
Touch sensitive
Sound sensitive
Doesn't like walks
Doesn't like to move
Problems with sugar balance
Weight gain or loss
Increased risk or disease
Joint Problems
Muscle weakness or loss
Fears and phobias
Pulling clothes off people
Chasing tail/spinning
Ankle biting
Digging or scratching things
Bullying or possessiveness
Fussy eating/wont take treats
Shadow chasing
Mounting
Drinking more than usual
Anal gland problems
Rapid breathing/panting
Hyperactive
Poor reproduction
Lowered learning ability
Wanting to play continuously
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Wanting to walk on soft ground
Heart palpitations |
Not every symptom on the list will affect your dog. It may be that your dog shows only one or two or several symptoms. No matter how many symptoms your dog displays it is never too late to take action. Acknowledging the symptoms is a great start to doing something positive about it.
Find out why your dog is showing these symptoms. You will most likely need the help of your veterinarian and a canine therapist to help you find the root cause of your dog’s symptoms, so you can take appropriate action.
Visit Nicole's website for more information and tips on training your dog: http://www.shalvaholistics.com
