Types of Pet Anxiety: An Overview
Pet anxiety is an important issue because it can manifest in many different negative behaviors like digging, spraying, excessive barking or crying, destroying furniture, inappropriate urination and general unhappiness. Treating pet anxiety will improve their quality of life, as well as yours.
Anxiety can usually be treated through desensitization, but sometimes requires medication. Here is an overview of the types of pet anxiety.
Pets and separation anxiety
Separation anxiety is one of the more common pet problems. Because pets act out in many different ways, their owners may not even realize what the problem is. Separation anxiety is especially common in animals that have had many different owners and fear being abandoned again.
Some pet owners make the problem worse by trying to reassure the animal before they leave and making a big deal out of leaving. Crate training is one way to ease separation anxiety. Owners might also try ignoring the animal for 15 minute before they leave and for 15 minutes after they return.
Pets and social anxiety
Animals must be socialized in order to be comfortable around humans and large groups. Animals who are not socialized may feel fear, aggression or the urge to run when forced to be social with either animals or people. Social anxiety is often seen in animals that have not had much human contact, like dogs rescued from a puppy mill or feral cats. Socialization should begin slowly, starting with one person and moving on from there.
Cats usually experience social anxiety from interactions with other cats, but they may also be shy around new people or groups. If your cat is shy around people, it may be nothing to worry about as long as s/he has access to food and a litter box. Some cats have naturally shy personalities. However, if your cat is spraying, exhibiting destructive behavior or licking excessively, you should look into treatment.
Pets and noise anxiety
Many animals are scared of loud noises like thunder, gun shots or deep voices. You can help your pet by desensitizing it to the noise. You can also create a positive association, like giving your dog treats during a thunderstorm. Another way to desensitize is to make a recording of the sound and play it softly, gradually turning up the volume.
Pets and Car Anxiety
Some animals like riding in the car and others don?t. It may be the confined space, the noise or the motion that gets to him. Each pet is different. If your pet is young, you can make rides in the car a positive experience. But if you have an older pet you will probably have to start slower with behavior modification exercises. The idea is to get the animal comfortable with the car and then eventually make the car ride a pleasant experience.
This can be more difficult with cats because they have to ride in a carrying case. If they don?t like their case to begin with, you have your work cut out for you. First you have to get them comfortable with their case and then you move on to the car.
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