Signs and Symptoms of Anxiety Attacks in Dogs

Everyone experiences stress. An anxiety attack is a severe reaction to extreme stress. Dogs can suffer from anxiety attacks too. Some dogs panic when they are left alone. Others become phobic in cars. And many work themselves into a frenzy during thunderstorms. People sometimes brand anxiety attacks as bad behavior. Learn the signs and symptoms of a dog anxiety attack to better understand your pet.

  1. Separation Anxiety

    • Dogs are social animals and suffer when left alone. All dogs get lonely when left behind by their owners. Some dogs develop severe trauma and experience anxiety attacks when this occurs. A dog learns the subtle cues of its owner's routines and reacts to them. If the master makes a cup of coffee or puts on a tie every morning, those simple actions might induce whining. Acute symptoms begin as soon as the door closes and the dog is separated from its human pack. The dog will pace back and forth, then rush to the window repeatedly to check if anyone is returning. Stressed dogs often shred paper or any material within their reach. Continuous, unrelenting barking is also a sign of stress.

    Car Phobias

    • Anxious canine passengers bark furiously. Most dogs bark occasionally at something spied out the window. But an unrelenting barrage of noise is a sure sign of an anxiety attack. Panicked dogs may race from one open window to the other, regardless of whether or not the adjoining seat is occupied. The dog may even leap out an open window from a moving car in reaction to stress and claustrophobia. When the driver, fortunate to have survived the trip, arrives at her destination, she may find shredded tissues, gnawed safety belts, ransacked grocery bags and lots of smudge marks on car windows.

    Noise Anxiety

    • Dogs exhibit signs of anxiety when loud noises alarm them. The sudden thuds or drilling sounds associated with construction may make an anxious dog shrink back or shiver. Panicked dogs cower in a corner or wedge themselves under a bed during loud thunderstorms. Some dogs actually charge at the suspected source of the thunder, barking ferociously and baring their teeth.

    Obsessive Behavior

    • Some signs of anxiety are more subtle. An acutely stressed dog may lick itself incessantly. Constantly licked areas lose their fur. Some dogs develop "lick granulomas," patches of reddened, calloused skin. Restlessness at night is another symptom of an anxiety attack. Dogs are the same as humans in this case; a restless mind results in a sleepless night.