Signs Your Dog Is Stressed And How To Relieve It – Fetch! Pet Care

September 10, 2018 |

We love our pets. When we bring a pet into our family, he becomes part of our family. We provide trips to the veterinarian for preventative care. We feed them, give them water, and we consider his needs and adapt our lives to include them.

Our pets are the most loyal member of our family in some cases. He can’t wait for us to come home. He watches for us and welcomes us every single time. When we feel ill, he will often stay close to us until we feel better. He will guard us and protect us with his very life. Our pets love us and we truly love them.

Communication

We manage to communicate with our dog very well. Dogs are smart. They learn basic commands easily. But, their ability to communicate with us, is limited. It is up to us to know our pet well enough to know when something is wrong. We have to be able to read his behavior, notice physical signs that he is under stress or experiencing pain.

What would cause your pet to get stressed out?

Many pet owners are surprised to find out that their beloved dog can get stressed out. From our point of view, they have a great life. They have a home, food, and a family that loves them. But, according to pet experts, there are many things that can cause stress in a dog.  Below we have listed a few reasons that a healthy dog can begin to stress. Just like people, sometimes it is hard to know why you feel stress, But, that doesn’t make it any less of an issue.

• Changes in the home
  • Any kind of change in the home can cause your dog to become stressed. The change may be one that will make your dog’s life easier, but until he has adjusted to the change, he will be stressed. One example is moving. Perhaps you moved from an apartment, where your dog had to be taken outdoors on a leash, to a home with a fenced in backyard where he can just be let out on his own. This is a good change. But it is unfamiliar to the animal. He is also outside without a family member for the first time.
  • Perhaps you have a baby. This will change everything in the household for all of you for a while. He may not understand why he is scolded for barking at times or why his access to certain areas has been restricted. He will also sense your stress.
  • Bringing another pet into the home is equally stressful to your dog. He is not used to sharing his space or his family with anyone

  Signs that stress is affecting your dog’s health

  • Loss of appetite (loss of weight)
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Excessive chewing on non-food items
  • Licking themselves to the point of causing problems with their skin
  • The dog may show signs of colds or infections due to a compromised immune system.
  • He suddenly starts misbehaving and not obeying you
  • He begins to urinate indoors and sometimes on objects. You may notice your dog urinate on the baby’s toy or play mat or on toys that belong to the new pet

  How can you help your dog?

  The first thing is, be understanding and comforting. That does not mean that you do not bring correction. But you show the dog affection and attention until he understands that everything is okay.

  Dogs are very sensitive to things around them. Their sense of smell is 20 times more than that of a human. Their bodies react to natural elements much like our own. This is why more dog professionals are recommending the use of essential oils to calm a dog that is stressed. However, you need to use real essential oils. Some of the products in your local department store are packaged to look like essential oils, but in reality, they are simply room fresheners. Aromatherapy oil developed and tested by Banyan Tree Essentials are real essential oils. Only real essential oils will trigger the senses needed to calm your pet.

  Essential oils are used in diffusers to release the elements into the air, ingested, or applied topically. The very first one you should buy is Lavender. It should be put in a diffuser. It will release in the air which will calm your dog and the people in the home. Your dog will heal better when you are also relaxed.

  Loss of appetite digestive problems, vomiting

  Once your dog has gotten tummy troubles from stress, it is important to treat it as easy for the dog as possible. This blend of essential oils should be mixed together, then lovingly stroke oils in your hands down the dog’s spine and around his joints. The oils will absorb, triggering him to want to eat. Let him return to his eating as slowly as he wants to.

  • Recipe:
    • 3 drops of ginger
    • 3 drops of spearmint
    • 2 drops of peppermint

    Note: The peppermint is added to keep your dog from getting nausea when he tries to eat again. It is very strong. Do NOT get it in or near his eyes. If your dog doesn’t improve in a few days and you want to take him to the vet, you can place ONE drop of peppermint directly on his tongue to keep him from getting car sick.

    Essential oils are safe for your pets and your family. You can find plenty of information online. Always begin slowly. You can always add an extra drop, but once it is applied, you cannot take it back.

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