Is Your Pooch Indicating That he is Feeling Stressed? In Order to De-Stress Your Pooch, You Have to Use Six Simple Techniques -Article
- By Annette Masse
- Published 07/12/2008
- Self Help
- Viewed 32 time(s).
The impacts and tolls that stress can have on our pets have been put on the back burner of discussion for way too long. Health problems arise if humans are subject too much stress. It can make us unbalanced, irritable and aggressive, all of which in turn, greatly affects our relationships with others. What makes you think that dogs don't suffer the effects of stress?
Some Stress Signs that Your Pet May Exhibit Are:
• Impatience
• Hyperactivity
• Very frequent display of calming signals.
• Aggressive or nervous behavior
• Neurotic behavior
• Dog appears “distant”
• Panting
• Underweight
• Excessive self grooming
• Frequent barking or whining
• Very frequent urinating.
Most canine behavioral problems are caused by stress. How can stress be avoided?
You need to know the warning signs that indicate your dog is stressed, and recognize what stresses him out. The best tactic is to avoid creating stressful situations in the first place. The anxiety your dog feels is a direct result of factors within his life, called stressors.
Some Stressors Might Include:
• Death of a a primary caregiver
• A move
• Death or disappearance of another family pet.
• Being kept in a cage for too long.
• Sudden or loud noises, for example: construction or thunderstorms
If your dog is stressed, the level of a hormone, called Cortisol, will rise within his body. Our four-legged friends can be harmed both physically and emotionally by higher than normal levels of Cortisol.
Your dog's stress reaction can be broken down into three consecutive phases.
1. Stage one – The Alarm Reaction Stage. The dog deals with nervous impulses and a hormone release leads to optimal efficiency.
2. Stage 2 -Resistance - During Resistance, your dog's energy is consumed by trying to cope, lowering his ability to resist to other stressors.
3. Stage Three – The Exhaustion stage - When the stress persists continuously, the animal can no longer cope. He will then go into what is called “adaptation disease.”
This translates into your dog reverting back to stage one, but the problem is still occurring. If the Cortisol level in the blood is constantly at an increased level, adaptation disease may be the direct result.
Of course, the dog can't physically be kept in this excited state, long-term, without negative consequences. A dog will react to long term stress, anxiety and tension by falling into one of the above three stages.
Permanently high levels of Cortisol in your dog's system will weaken his ability to fight off diseases. Stomach ulcers and chronic diarrhea may be the results of digestive system illnesses that are linked to stress as well. Over time, stress can lead to serious damage of the adrenal gland, high blood pressure, heart attacks and even stroke.
If you think that your dog is stressed, take some time to rectify the problem.
All dogs are different, but theses are some tried and true tips that will work for most.
• Show them absolute love and security.
• Conduct healthy calm breathing when you are around each other.
• Although bonds between your dog and you increase as you spend more time together, it's also important to all them their own space and quiet times to rest and sleep.
• Provide them with a good life for a dog.
• Allow them to interact with fellow dogs, suitable cats, and humans who love dogs.
• You should enjoy walks in the fresh air with your dog.
• Provide them with a healthy diet.
Taking away the stress in your dogs life will make him happier and healthier. This in turn, will make you a happy dog owner.
Some Stress Signs that Your Pet May Exhibit Are:
• Impatience
• Hyperactivity
• Very frequent display of calming signals.
• Aggressive or nervous behavior
• Neurotic behavior
• Dog appears “distant”
• Panting
• Underweight
• Excessive self grooming
• Frequent barking or whining
• Very frequent urinating.
Most canine behavioral problems are caused by stress. How can stress be avoided?
You need to know the warning signs that indicate your dog is stressed, and recognize what stresses him out. The best tactic is to avoid creating stressful situations in the first place. The anxiety your dog feels is a direct result of factors within his life, called stressors.
Some Stressors Might Include:
• Death of a a primary caregiver
• A move
• Death or disappearance of another family pet.
• Being kept in a cage for too long.
• Sudden or loud noises, for example: construction or thunderstorms
If your dog is stressed, the level of a hormone, called Cortisol, will rise within his body. Our four-legged friends can be harmed both physically and emotionally by higher than normal levels of Cortisol.
Your dog's stress reaction can be broken down into three consecutive phases.
1. Stage one – The Alarm Reaction Stage. The dog deals with nervous impulses and a hormone release leads to optimal efficiency.
2. Stage 2 -Resistance - During Resistance, your dog's energy is consumed by trying to cope, lowering his ability to resist to other stressors.
3. Stage Three – The Exhaustion stage - When the stress persists continuously, the animal can no longer cope. He will then go into what is called “adaptation disease.”
This translates into your dog reverting back to stage one, but the problem is still occurring. If the Cortisol level in the blood is constantly at an increased level, adaptation disease may be the direct result.
Of course, the dog can't physically be kept in this excited state, long-term, without negative consequences. A dog will react to long term stress, anxiety and tension by falling into one of the above three stages.
Permanently high levels of Cortisol in your dog's system will weaken his ability to fight off diseases. Stomach ulcers and chronic diarrhea may be the results of digestive system illnesses that are linked to stress as well. Over time, stress can lead to serious damage of the adrenal gland, high blood pressure, heart attacks and even stroke.
If you think that your dog is stressed, take some time to rectify the problem.
All dogs are different, but theses are some tried and true tips that will work for most.
• Show them absolute love and security.
• Conduct healthy calm breathing when you are around each other.
• Although bonds between your dog and you increase as you spend more time together, it's also important to all them their own space and quiet times to rest and sleep.
• Provide them with a good life for a dog.
• Allow them to interact with fellow dogs, suitable cats, and humans who love dogs.
• You should enjoy walks in the fresh air with your dog.
• Provide them with a healthy diet.
Taking away the stress in your dogs life will make him happier and healthier. This in turn, will make you a happy dog owner.
For more information on this topic and more. Please take my complimentary mini course for you and your dog at the URL below. Annette Masse has been loving and respecting dogs for 25 years.ForTheLoveOfDogZ.com
View all articles written by Annette Masse
Article Keyword(s): stress in dogs| dog stress| how stress effects dogs| is my dog healthy| |
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