Wednesday, January 10, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
Natural alternatives
for anxious dogs
If you or someone you
know suffers from severe
anxiety, you know how dif-
ficult it can be to get through
the day. And just like people,
dogs can experience anxiety,
which can be provoked by
fear, separation, and environ-
mental changes.
Anxiety affects all breeds
of dogs and can lead to seri-
ous behavioral problems if
left untreated.
Dogs are individuals, and
each manifests anxiety differ-
ently. The anxiety can range
from mild (crouching, hid-
ing, tail-tucking) or moderate
(panting, shaking, trembling,
extreme licking, and chew-
ing) to severe (excessive
barking or howling, aggres-
sion, biting, destructiveness)
An anxious dog may also
urinate or defecate in inap-
propriate places.
Dog anxiety can have sev-
eral causes.
Fear-related anxiety can
be caused by loud noises,
strange people or animals,
visual stimuli like hats or
umbrellas, new or strange
environments, specific situ-
ations like the veterinarian’s
office or car rides. These
fears may seem insignificant
to us, but they can create a lot
of anxiety for dogs.
One of the most common
complaints of pet parents is
that their dog is disruptive or
destructive when left alone.
Separation anxiety is trig-
gered when a dog becomes
upset because of separation
from his pet parent, the per-
son they’re attached to.
Separation anxiety
ranges anywhere from mild
to extreme. An example of
extreme separation anxi-
ety could be a dog that will
attempt to dig and chew
through doors or windows,
which could result in self-
injury, such as broken teeth,
cut and scraped front paws
and damaged nails.
Separation anxiety can
occur in animals from mul-
tiple or single-pet homes. It
may be more likely to happen
in animals with a history of
abuse. Or dogs that have had
a traumatic separation from
a previous companion, for
example a dog brought into a
shelter may have an increased
risk. Dogs that have missed
out on normal social interac-
tion with people or other ani-
mals, especially as puppies,
may also be at risk. Anxious
dogs also often work them-
selves up to the point that
they pee or poop in the house,
even if they are housebroken.
Age-related anxiety
affects older dogs and can
be associated with cogni-
tive dysfunction syndrome
(CDS). In canines with CDS,
memory, learning, percep-
tion, and awareness start to
decline, similar to the early
stages of Alzheimer’s disease
in humans. This understand-
ably leads to anxiety in senior
dogs.
Dog anxiety can be men-
tally and physically taxing for
you and your furry friend. In a
worst-case scenario, anxious
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dogs can injure themselves, energy throughout the body.
people in their environment
The goal of acupuncture
or other dogs
is to promote the body to
If you think your pooch heal itself. From a traditional
might have anxiety, talk to Chinese veterinary medicine
your veterinarian today about (TCVM) perspective, veteri-
a treatment plan that best fits nary acupuncture encourages
your furry friend and your healing by correcting energy
lifestyle.
imbalances in the body.
Veterinarians may choose
Acupuncture produces a
to administer sedative physiological response. It can
medication to dogs that are provide pain relief, stimulate
affected by chronic anxiety. the immune and nervous sys-
And these drugs often come tems, increase microcircula-
with side effects and behavior tion, and decrease inflamma-
changes.
tion. Acupuncture can also
Alternative anxiety treat- help restore balance between
ments may mean no side organ systems for optimal
effects and no behavioral health and overall well-
changes in your pet.
being. According to Rachel
Alternative anxiety treat- Barrack, DVM, many dogs
ments include aromatherapy, find acupuncture sessions so
pheromone therapy, herbal relaxing that they fall asleep
ingredients, or acupuncture.
once the needles are inserted.
Acupuncture and Chinese Chinese herbs are often used
herbal therapy (in addition in conjunction with acupunc-
to positive reinforcement ture to optimize and extend
training)
have shown
to greatly
r e d u c e
canine anxi-
e t y. T h e
backbone
of Chinese
medicine for
thousands
of years,
acupuncture
involves
inserting
thin, sterile,
stainless-
steel needles
into specific
points of the
body. Most
acupunc-
ture points
are located
along 14
major chan-
nels, which
form a net-
PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER MCNAMEE
work that
c a r r i e s Anxiety affects all breeds of dogs and can lead to
blood and serious behavioral problems if left untreated.
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13
its effects.
Don’t let your dog’s anxi-
ety take control of your life.
Consult with your veterinar-
ian on the best options to
alleviate your furry family
member’s anxiety, and con-
sider acupuncture for a safe
and gentle way to calm your
canine.
With the right treatment
strategy, you can help your
pooch overcome his anxiety
and prevent dangerous and
destructive situations from
happening in the first place.