Solutions for Anxiety and Stress in our Pets

We all suffer from stress every now and again and some of us suffer from stress more than others. The same is true of our pets. Where one dog may be happy and content when home alone with just a good dog bed and his favorite toy for company, another may howl and pine and remain stressed until his owner returns.

Your pet’s behavior is the best indicator that they are suffering from anxiety or stress. They tell us a lot by their actions, their physiological responses, and sometimes by the “evidence” they’ve left while you’ve been at work.

Over the years we’ve worked with many cases of stress in animals – from dogs and cats, to rabbits, birds and horses! While many animals exhibit similar manifestations, it’s comforting to know that we need not see our animals suffer and that there’s much we can do to help keep them relaxed.

One of our four legged patients was a dog who showed his separation anxiety by climbing into a pot plant and howling. He would convince himself that his owner wasn’t home – even when she was – and commence his sad protest.

Another was a rescue dog who shows aggressive behavior towards the other dogs in her home, because she feels threatened and uncertain of her own safety. This same dog also got car sick and vomited all over the back seat on any journey longer than 30 minutes!

Loud noises such as fireworks or thunder cause stress and anxiety in countless dogs and cats all around the world and can cause them to bounce off the walls or hide somewhere in the house, trembling with fear.

Some pets can wreck furniture, scratch up the place or relieve themselves when experiencing extreme anxiety. Panting, drooling, whining and fretting are all indicators.

None of these manifestations of stress are desirable behaviors and as loving pet owners we obviously want to help comfort and calm our animals as best we can. One way that we can provide relief from stress and anxiety is through finding the right natural remedy that will calm and soothe and provide effective relief at times of elevated stress.

At HomeoPet we have a range of veterinary designed formulas that alleviate the many underlying contributors to different types of anxiety and stress. Whether your pet is anxious in specific situations, or requires more general stress relief, you can choose the best option for your pet and their own individual stress triggers.

HomeoPet Anxiety Relief is for general anxious conditions and offers relief from fear of separation, kenneling and vet or grooming visits. The symptoms of such stress range from barking, whining and panting to destructive behavior and even feather plucking in birds. Anxiety Relief offers great support during the introduction of new pets or people, to help rescued or rehomed pets, or other general causes of anxiety.

HomeoPet Fireworks offers relief from fear of fireworks and loud noise that can cause panting, pacing, drooling, wining, hiding and other unwanted behavior.  From July 4th celebrations in the USA, Guy Fawkes night in the UK, New Year’s Eve celebrations or the dreaded season of crow scarers, HomeoPet Fireworks has helped countless pets to remain calm.

HomeoPet Travel Anxiety is our answer to motion sickness, drooling, vomiting, panting, restlessness and other unwanted behavior during any sort of travel, including car trips and at holiday time. Fast-acting, it’s best to start giving your pet Travel Anxiety an hour before the trip.

HomeoPet Storm Stress (available in Australia and the USA) is designed specifically for loud noises, changes in barometric pressure and the wild lightning, thunder, wind and rain of storms, hurricanes and tornados that are all too frequent in certain regions of the USA. This formula helps promote a sense of calm, quickly and effectively.

If your pet becomes stressed regularly, it’s important to pinpoint the cause, so you can help to reduce the causes of stress and to provide the right type of remedy. Monitor his or her behavior, take notes and see if there is a consistent theme over time and if the same trigger factors are at play. If you really can’t pinpoint the causes of your pet’s stressed behavior, consult your veterinarian as they may be able to provide you with expert insights.