There are some very clear signs that can alert us that our dog is suffering from stress. Would you know how to detect them? If you suspect that your best friend may be going through a bad situation, we recommend that you continue reading this article on our site:
We are going to detail 10 signs of stress in the dog that, individually or together, can translate into a serious problem of he alth that directly affects your well-being and, sometimes, even your he alth.
Don't wait another minute, find out if your dog is experiencing stress and how you can help below:
1. Hyperactivity
It is very common for stressed dogs to have hyperactive behavior. They are incapable of being calm and in the long run they can start to chew furniture and any utensil they find in their path to release the accumulated tension.
two. Appearance of stereotypes
Stereotypes are constant repetitive movements that the dog carries out without a specific purpose. There are many types of stereotypes: we can observe dogs that bite their tails, that hunt invisible animals, that bark non-stop… They are repetitive and incessant habits.
3. Overreactions
Perhaps your dog was already a bit of a barker, ate things off the ground, or perhaps reacted to other dogs in the past. Whatever his habits were, now you observe his most intense behavior. In the stressed dog the reactions are intensified.
4. Salivation and licking
If we observe that a dog licks his lips and salivates in an exaggerated way it is essential to pay attention that it is not a habit that leads to done repeatedly and constantly. It is one of the signs of stress in the dog that we must take into account.
5. Lack of attention
Dogs that are stressed suffer from a generalized nervousness that makes them have difficulty concentrating, paying attention, following our obedience orders… However, if your dog has a generalized lack of attention and always (not just now that he is stressed) you could evaluate with your veterinarian if it is a problem of attention deficit.
6. Excessive panting
Panting is the tool dogs use to expel heat from the body If you notice your dog panting in situations where should be calm is that you are probably stressed and need to relieve the tension you feel. Sometimes panting may be accompanied by wails and sounds of sadness.
7. Reactivity or flight
A stressed dog often feels very uncomfortable in an unknown situation or one that is causing stress. If, for example, our dog suffers stress when meeting other dogs, each of these encounters will cause it to overreact. This will make him try to run away or react very negatively to this stimulus (be it a person, an environment, an object or a specific situation)
8. Loss of hair
Go to the vet as soon as possible You can also lose hair by compulsive licking (acral granuloma) or by pulling it out directly with teeth. He acts as soon as possible, but he sends you emergency signals
9. Muscular stiffness
Especially in situations that cause him stress we can see him more tense and rigid than usual. It is common to observe the tail and limbs in tension, waiting for some significant event to occur.
10. Behavior Changes
Finally we end the list with a common problem: behavioral changes. It is very common for dogs under stress to start developing behaviors that they have never shown before: aggressiveness, shyness, depression, phobias… But instead of showing them in situations concrete ones begin to do it in a generalized way. This is one of the most revealing signs of dog stress.
How to help a stressed dog
If you think your dog is very stressed, we recommend that you see a canine ethologist or educator as soon as possible. Both professional figures will help and guide you with tips and useful guidelines for your case In addition, they can help you identify the cause that is causing stress in your dog.
However, if you have observed any of these 10 signs of stress in your dog, we recommend you visit our article so you know what to do if your dog is stressed. Discover some tips to improve your well-being as well as some very useful tricks that will help you channel your nervousness.
