More Thoughts on Anxiety

I had a new client reach out for help with her anxious dog. She had a lot of great questions, but her first question was really interesting: She wanted to know if her own anxiety was making her dog's behavior worse. While we know from the research on children that living with an anxious parent can foster anxiety in kids, we also know that there are kids who seem more resistant to this, somehow better able to distance themselves from their parent's anxiety and not experience it for themselves. I think the same is likely true for our pets, particularly our dogs.  Over 30,000 years of co-evolution, we've bred and selected for dogs who are empathetic to humans; we've chosen for ourselves dogs who feel what we feel.  The downside of this is that it is certainly possible that an anxious person will, on occasion, experience feelings that not only overwhelm them, but overwhelm their dog.  This isn't bad necessarily, it's just true.  And if the dog themselves is anxious, they may be less able to cope with their owner's anxiety on a day to day basis. Conversely, an owner who isn't inherently an anxious person may become frustrated and, yes, a bit anxious living with a dog who is chronically anxious. There is one thing we know for sure: Ignoring anxiety will not make it go away. Neither will telling the person (or the pet) to "cowboy up" and power through it.  That's not how anxiety works.

People and pets with anxiety have different brain activity patterns than those who aren't anxious. They have more activity in the amygdala, the region of the brain that plays a crucial role in processing emotions and forming emotional memories, particularly those related to fears and anxieties. They also have more brain activity in their limbic system, that area of the brain that regulates emotions and memories.  Both areas of the brain have a key role in the "fight or flight response" that many pet owners associate with the behavior of their anxious pets. There is even research suggesting that not only do anxious people and pets have different brain activity, but they also have structurally different brains, resulting in them having heightened emotional responses and issues related to cognitive processing.

Anxious people are often told to increase their physical activity because research shows that exercise reduces stress hormones and releases endorphins into the blood stream, thus relieving some of the symptoms of anxiety. The same is true for our anxious pets.  They need those walks, those hikes, those trips to the beach, and that game of fetch.  The problem, however, is that many anxious pets resist exercise.  They put on the brakes and refuse to walk; they try to drag their owners back home; they won't get out of the car (or even into it); and some even hide when it's time to put on the leash. So, while you might be able to convince an anxious human to increase their exercise, it's a bit more difficult to convince your dog, and forcing them to go may backfire resulting in more resistance, more reactivity, more fear, and even more aggression. So, what are you supposed to do if you are living with an anxious dog that you can't walk or take anywhere without making their anxiety worse?

To start, see your veterinarian. You will want to rule out any medical reasons for your pet's behavior.  While you are there, have them run some basic blood work so you'll have a baseline if (and when) you start your pet on anti-anxiety medication.  While you may be able to help your pet get a bit of relief using holistic products like dog appeasing pheromones (DAP), anxiety wraps (ThunderShirt), or CBD (cannabinoids), they likely won't be enough. It's important to bear in mind, however, that going the drug therapy route isn't without its pitfalls as well.

First and foremost remember that Rome wasn't built in a day.  Just because you started your dog on Prozac (fluoxetine), for example, doesn't mean you will see immediate behavioral changes.  Generally speaking, it takes about six weeks before you'll see any potential positive effects from giving Prozac once daily to your pet. True, I've had clients report a few promising changes around four weeks, but I've also had clients who've seen nothing until the three month mark! You have to be in it for the long haul; there will likely be dosage adjustments and you may have to add in other things along the way. For example, if Prozac upsets your dog's stomach, you may have to also give him Pepcid or Prilosec. Keeping a daily log of your pet's behavior once you start Prozac is key so you can track any changes (positive or negative), as well as their appetite, bathroom schedule, and any changes to their sleep patterns.

While you are waiting for the Prozac to kick in, there are things you should be doing.  Even if you can't walk your dog, you should be exercising their brain.  Puzzle feeders, puzzle toys, snuffle mats, etc. are important for all of our dogs, but critically important for the anxious ones. If your dog is noise sensitive, you won't want to get a noisy puzzle toy, choose instead something quiet and stationary like a snuffle mat.  Sniffing our their meals will help to reduce their anxiety and is an easy thing to do a couple of times a day. Just because you can't walk your dog outdoors doesn't mean you can't walk your dog at all!  Get creative: Work on retraining them to enjoy putting on their leash/collar/harness.  Walk them around inside your house.  Do laps. I know it's boring and tedious, but your house is their safe space. Re-teach them to enjoy walks with you.  Focus on helping them not to pull, drop treats for them to find, create barriers to walk around using your furniture or soccer cones. Celebrate those small wins that build their confidence in a less stressful, low stakes, environment.

Don't get discouraged!  For most of my clients with anxious pets, by the time they get to me, they are desperate. Desperate to get out of their house; desperate to be able to go for walks like "normal people do." I get it, I really do. I've lived with more than one anxious dog. And if you, their human, are also experiencing anxiety, get help for yourself. It will be that much harder to help your pet if you've not done the work required to help yourself first. You can empathize with each other as you take those anxiety-reducing walks together once you both have all the tools you need to really succeed and thrive.

As always, if you have questions about your pet's behavior, you know where to find me.

Zelly is not a bit anxious, unlike her predecessor, Westley. Nonetheless, Zelly greatly enjoys puzzles and games, and the snuffle mat in particular. Sniffing out her meals is great fun, giving her brain some much needed exercise, and letting that beautiful nose of hers explore safely.