Introduction
As caring guardians to our canine companions, it’s essential to recognize and address any stress they may be experiencing. Stress can manifest in various ways, impacting both their physical and emotional well-being. In this blog, we’ll explore the symptoms of stress in dogs, how chronic stress can impact overall health, and supportive strategies to help them feel calm and secure in order to try to prevent it.
Types of Stress
- Physiological stress is due to such issues as trauma, surgery, injections including vaccinations, sex hormonal and other hormonal changes, systemic illness and shock.
- Psychogenic stress is how the body responds to emotional or mental stressors and can be further classified. Negative psychogenic stress could manifest from separation anxiety in dogs. Alternatively, positive psychogenic stress may result from the reunion with another companion dog or parent, etc. In terms of psychogenic stress, the concern is that these emotional or mental stressors, if ongoing, could manifest into a physical illness.
In this blog we are going to focus on psychogenic stress and how it can negatively affect your dog’s overall health and longevity.
Symptoms of Stress to Recognize in Your Dog
- Excessive panting
- Tense posture
- Clingy
- Shaking
- Tail tucked
- Hiding
- Acting destructive
- Aggressive behavior
- Refusing food
- Potty accidents
- Vocalization
- Yawning
- Lip licking
- Drooling
- Hiding
It is important to know that many of these symptoms can be signs of medical illness. Therefore, if your pet is suddenly showing any of these symptoms, please have him/her checked by your veterinarian to rule out an underlying medical condition.
How Canine Stress Can Negatively Impact Health
Dr. Nancy Dreschel of Pennsylvania State University surveyed 721 companion dog parents whose dogs had passed, and found if a dog was deemed “well-behaved” by the pet parent, it showed a positive correlation with lifespan.. So, “good” dogs lived longer. Well-behaved, well-balanced dogs generally have confidence and exhibit less stress symptoms. She also found that dogs with extreme fear and separation anxiety were found to have increased severity and frequency of skin disorders. Lastly, she found that the fear of strangers was discovered to be linked to a considerably shortened lifespan.
Let’s talk about specific health concerns related to stress:
- Digestive Issues: The gut and the brain share a strong connection that goes beyond mere physicality. Emotions like anger, anxiety, sadness, and joy can influence the digestive system, triggering various symptoms.
This bi-directional relationship means that the brain can directly impact the stomach and intestines. Even the anticipation of eating can stimulate the release of digestive juices. Conversely, a distressed gut can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled mind can affect the gut. This intricate connection between the brain and the gastrointestinal (GI) system highlights how stomach or intestinal discomfort can be both a cause and a consequence of emotions like anxiety and stress. It underscores the profound link between mental and digestive well-being
Chronic stress can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation. Stress alters the balance of bacteria in the gut, contributing to digestive discomfort and potential long-term issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). - Immune Suppression: Persistent stress is governed by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This intricate process in the body triggers the production and release of hormones like glucocorticoids, cortisol, and corticosterone. Over time, these hormones may detrimentally influence metabolism and immune function, and could potentially disrupt thyroid function and the reproductive system. In one study, When dogs were exposed to a recording of a thunderstorm at a loud volume, most dogs exhibited classic signs of fear including pacing, whining, trembling, and either hiding or wanting to be near their owner. The average increase in cortisol following the recording was a whopping 207%.
Prolonged stress undermines the immune system’s strength, leaving dogs more prone to infections, allergies, and autoimmune disorders. This susceptibility can lead to frequent illnesses and a diminished capacity to fight pathogens efficiently. As highlighted earlier, stress adversely affects beneficial gut bacteria. Given that 70% of the immune system is housed in the gut, this impact can profoundly affect overall immunity. - Skin Conditions: Stress can exacerbate existing skin conditions like dermatitis may trigger the onset of allergic reactions or hot spots. Dogs under stress may excessively scratch, lick, or bite their skin, leading to self-inflicted wounds and secondary infections.
- Cardiovascular Complications: Stress has been linked to cardiovascular problems in dogs, including hypertension (high blood pressure), prolonged elevations in heart rate and an increased risk of heart disease. Elevated stress hormones can put a strain on the heart and contribute to long-term cardiovascular issues.
- Hormonal Effects: When a dog (or human) experiences stress, their body triggers a response called the HPA axis. This process involves several hormones that help the dog cope with stress. The hypothalamus, a part of the dog’s brain, releases corticotropin releasing hormone and arginine vasopressin, which then signal the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone. This hormone prompts the adrenal glands to release glucocorticoids (GCs), such as cortisol and corticosterone.These GCs affect various metabolic processes in the dog’s body, including how they use proteins, glucose, and fatty acids, as well as their immune function. They can also have a catabolic effect, meaning they break down substances in the dog’s body. Additionally, corticotropin releasing hormone slows down gut movement, while arginine vasopressin regulates fluid balance and kidney function.Overall, these hormones can impact a dog’s growth, thyroid function, and reproduction, showing how stress can affect many aspects of a dog’s body’s functioning.
How to Approach Your Stressed Out Dog
First, we must be sure it is not stemming from something that we are doing. If we are transferring our own stress to our dog, then it might be time to focus on ourselves. It’s hard not to have stress these days. But if we can recognize it, we have a much better chance of managing it in a healthy way, so it doesn’t spill over to the ones we love.
If a dog deals with stress around specific situations such as car rides, separation, other dogs, other people, fireworks, etc. it’s important to develop habits that build your dog’s confidence and provide comfort.
Great ways to build your dog’s confidence include: obedience classes, agility, controlled socialization, positive reinforcement for favorable behaviors, and consistent routines and expectations. Many times, a dog’s stress comes from trying to figure out what we are asking of them. If you feel that your training methods may be contributing to your dog’s stress then I recommend seeking a trusted, positive reinforcement trainer or behaviorist for a consultation.
Stress due to separation can be a whole other blog. But i’ll touch on it here. First, it is important to understand that dogs are pack animals and being left alone away form the pack leaves them feeling vulnerable. This is often worse for rescue dogs who have finally found a safe person and don’t want to loose them. The primary goal here is to make these dogs feel safe. Some ways to help these dogs are to:
- Leave for very short periods gradually increasing the duration.
- Leave then in a safe, comfortable space such as a crate.
- Distract them with a new chew, frozen filled kong, etc when you leave.
- Leave the T.V. or music on.
- Use a dog monitor with two-way communication to talk to your dog.
- Consider anti-stress supplements if the stress level is high.
Over time they learn that you always return.
Ways to provide comfort for your dog during stress include soft music, a covered crate, fluffy bedding, petting and gentle massage, speaking softly, and thunder shirts. Calming supplements can also be tried such as ashwagandha, CBD, chamomile, L-theanine, valerian root, or melatonin. Please speak to your holistic veterinarian before trying calming supplements.
If your dog’s stress cannot be controlled, then I recommend seeking the advice of a veterinary behaviorist.
Conclusion
As dog guardians, we all want our dogs to live as long as possible. And we now know that stress can play a role in shortening their lives therefore, addressing and mitigating stress in dogs is essential. By recognizing the signs, implementing supportive strategies, and seeking professional guidance when needed, we can ensure that our dogs feel safe, secure, and emotionally fulfilled. Together, let’s create a nurturing environment where our furry friends can thrive and flourish for many years to come.