Who suffers from anxiety more, dogs or humans?
Wellbeing data from the Office for National Statistics shows that at the start of lockdown, there was a marked increase in anxiety amongst the population, and that it has remained at an elevated level ever since. But pets can suffer from anxiety and stress too. A study conducted by the University of Helsinki found that 72.5% of dogs are likely to suffer from some form of anxiety.
This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK, and leading pet insurer petGuard is keen to ensure that we don’t forget the wellbeing of our household pets. Especially now that everyone is returning back to work, pets are likely to experience significant changes in their routine, which can stress them out. Not only this, but the lifestyle shift can also cause separation anxiety.
What is separation anxiety?
Many people have been working from home for a long period of time, which means that they got to spend more time with their dogs. Since working from home ended, dogs lost their owner’s undivided attention.
Dogs are loyal creatures, and they love spending time in the company of their owners. If a dog follows their owner from room to room, scratches at windows and doors, barks or chews things that they shouldn’t when left alone, then these may be signs of separation anxiety.
It’s not fully understood why some dogs suffer more from separation anxiety and other dogs are perfectly fine in their own company, but as responsible owners, we need to understand and manage their emotions.
It is important to keep in mind that dogs can also experience mental health issues. As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, leading pet insurer petGuard has investigated how to spot anxiety in dogs and how to support them.
What are the signs of anxiety in dogs?
There are many signs that can show when a dog is experiencing stress and anxiety. Changes in behaviour, urinating in different spots around the house, or showing repetitive behaviour can all be signs of anxiety. Those signs can vary based on dog breeds or type of anxiety, and it is down to the owner to know what is normal for their dog and what is abnormal behaviour.
“A dog’s life isn’t always as easy as we might think it is. It’s important to understand how to manage stress in your pets, including anxiety. It’s key to understand the type of anxiety your dog is experiencing so that you can then help navigate it quickly and manage it in the best way for your dog”, says Alex Bennett, Head of Marketing at petGuard.
petGuard believes pet anxiety should be taken seriously. Unfortunately, pets can’t speak up about how they feel, so it is down to humans to spot the signs.
Read more about the signs of dog anxiety on:
https://www.petguard.co.uk/dog-separation-anxiety
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