Quiet Tails Journal / Signs of anxiety and distress in dogs
Signs of anxiety and distress in dogs
Quick answerAAHA’s behavior guidelines list the common signs of anxiety and distress in dogs and cats: panting, trembling, lip and nose licking, yawning, pacing or freezing, hiding, excess vocalizing, lowered posture, changes in eating, and more. Many signs are subtle.
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Quiet signs
- Lip or nose licking, yawning out of context
- Turning the head or body away; not meeting your gaze
- Lowered head, neck or body; ears lowered; tail tucked
- Scanning the room, hypervigilance
- Shifting legs, lifting a paw
- Increased or decreased closeness to people
Louder signs
- Panting, trembling, shaking, drooling
- Pacing, or the opposite: freezing
- Hiding or trying to escape
- Whining, barking or howling beyond the usual
- Urination or defecation
- Increased reactivity or aggression
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Changes in eating and grooming
AAHA notes that acute stress is usually linked to decreased appetite and thirst, while chronic stress is often linked to increased. It also lists increased grooming, sometimes with self-injury, and ritualized or repetitive behaviors.
Fear Free’s body language handout
Fear Free publishes a handout on body language and signs of fear, anxiety and stress (FAS) for dogs. It is a helpful reference.
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Not a diagnosis
Signs overlap with pain and illness. Write down what you see and tell your vet.
Frequently asked questions
What are the early signs of anxiety in a dog?
Lip licking, yawning, turning away, lowered posture, scanning and shifting legs are among the signs AAHA lists.
Sources
- AAHA Behavior Management Guidelines: common signs of anxiety/distress https://www.aaha.org/resources/2015-aaha-canine-and-feline-behavior-management-guidelines/common-signs-of-anxietydistress/
- Fear Free: Body language and signs of FAS https://www.fearfree.com/handout/body-language-and-signs-of-fas/
- Cornell Vet: Anxious behavior in dogs https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/health-info/anxious-behavior-how-help-your-dog-cope-unsettling-situations
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