Got Anxiety? This one's for the dogs!

Just like people, dogs can suffer from anxieties that stem from different issues. The most common types of anxieties that affect dogs include separation, social, noise-induced, illness-induced, shelter related stress, and general anxiety. These pets that suffer from any type can experience a range of mild to severe symptoms. Mild cases of anxiety in dogs can appear as pacing, whining, excessive barking, drooling, inappropriate urination or defecation, excessive chewing or digging, trembling, and more. In more severe cases a dog might also destroy furniture, consistently attempt to escape the home, bark when no one is home, or even become aggressive. So, how do you help your dog if they are suffering from these symptoms? Keep reading to find out!

I want to start by saying that if your dog is experiencing severe symptoms, especially aggression of any kind, I strongly recommend working with a veterinary behaviorist. These doctors are experts in animal behavior and typically utilize a tailored combination of prescription drugs and training to help each individual pet. For those of you that have dogs suffering to mild to moderate anxiety and do not wish to have them on prescription sedatives, there are many natural options available.

The first product that I like to recommend for stress is ProQuiet, a supplement used to support the nervous system and relieve symptoms of anxiety in dogs (and cats!). ProQuiet is full of B vitamins that support your pet's nervous system by promoting nerve repair and improving nerve function. This supplement also contains Chamomile and L-Tryptophan, which work together to produce a natural, mild sedative effect. Chamomile is a common daisy-like plant that, when ingested, can mildly sedate and reduce stress. L-Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in turkey meat and is what's responsible for the tired feeling you get after eating large quantities of turkey. I also like ProQuiet because it is safe to give daily or just as needed, depending on your pet's needs.

Rescue remedy is another product that I commonly recommend. This product is a combination of natural essences from wildflowers that work to balance emotions and consists of four main ingredients: Rock Rose, Clematis, Impatiens, and Star of Bethlehem. In holistic medicine, Rock Rose is used to treat acute episodes of panic caused by anxiety. Clematis is to focus the mind while Impatiens calms the mind while aiding in self-composure. Finally, Star of Bethlehem is often used to ease aftereffects of trauma. In many cases, episodes of anxiety are triggered by an event and cause the pet to become increasingly more agitated. Each of these ingredients work together to treat anxiety from different angles, providing broad-spectrum support for all stages of anxiety.

The last product that I like to recommend is Adaptil. While this product is slightly less natural than my previous recommendations, I like it because it does work naturally with the pet and comes in three forms. Adaptil is a product that uses synthetic "Dog Appeasing Pheromone" to aid in the calming of your dog during stressful events. "Dog Appeasing Pheromone" is the common name for the pheromone that is emitted by mother dogs when nursing their young; it reduces stress and increases focus in dogs of any age. Because of its aid in focus, Adaptil is also recommended to be used during training. As I mentioned earlier, Adaptil comes in three forms: a diffuser, collar, and spray. I like the diffuser for puppies and dogs that are adjusting to a new environment or that suffer from general anxiety. For dogs with moderate anxiety, I would recommend the collar option because it provides a higher concentration of pheromone at all times. Last but not least, I recommend the spray option for dogs that need help on a situational basis, such as travel or new people visiting the home.

These remedies that I've covered in this article can all be used daily or as needed and are safe to use together. They all work naturally in your dog's system to relieve symptoms of anxiety without requiring them to be on a regiment of prescription drugs that has the potential to alter their personality and quality of life.