When your pet becomes anxious, it can lead to some serious problems if left unaddressed. Dogs may bark incessantly or run away from home if they become too anxious while cats may urinate or defecate outside of their litter box and refuse to eat if they’re feeling stressed. Thankfully, there are many ways pet parents can address these feelings in their fur babies and help them keep calm.

Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Pet Calm

If you’ve ever had a pet who is anxious, you know that it can be very hard to deal with. Sometimes, it can be difficult to even tell if your pet is anxious, since they don’t speak your language and may not show outward signs of being distressed or frightened like people do when they are nervous or upset. The following tips will help you recognize the signs of anxiety in your dog or cat and teach you how to soothe and calm them when they feel the need to express this anxiety through negative behaviors. Now, let’s take a look at some in the moment treatments as well as preventative measures to deal with the root of their anxiety.

1. Use Natural Remedies

Anxiety in pets can be extremely distressing for both them and their owners. If your pet is feeling nervous, try rubbing him with a small amount of lavender oil or massaging their neck. Remember that many common herbs, like chamomile and lemon balm, also have anti-anxiety properties.

Other natural remedies like CBD for pets can help ease these symptoms and improve your pet’s quality of life. CBD for pets works directly with your pets’ endocannabinoid system (ECS), helping them maintain balance while reducing anxiety, nausea, spasms, inflammation, and other manifestations of stress.

2. Have a Schedule

Dogs and cats that are anxious or afraid can often benefit from a structured routine. If your pet’s anxious behavior is centered around mealtime, daily walks, or any other regular activity, make sure they follow a consistent schedule. A good routine will help them learn when they can expect certain things and help keep their anxiety at bay.

Moreover, incorporating exercise into their routine will help to further ease their anxiety. Exercise benefits pets by helping them feel better emotionally, get physically stronger, and improve their confidence–which are all qualities that will help combat anxiety.

3. Don’t Push Them

Most of us love having our pets with us as much as possible, but oftentimes they can get anxious and uncomfortable in new environments. If you’re trying to socialize your pet or acclimate them to a stressful situation (like traveling or going to the vet), it’s important not to push them too hard. As a general rule, if your pet seems stressed at all by something, back off and let them be.

For example, you don’t want your dog biting or scratching someone at a park because they were overwhelmed by kids playing. Likewise, you also don’t want your cat having a panic attack on an airplane during takeoff because they’re not used to flying.

4. Engage Them

Another tip to put your pet at ease from stress is to engage them with a toy. From food, toys, and ball throwers to laser pointers, you can find a device that will quickly get your pet’s attention on an activity that is mentally or physically enriching. Remember that simple things can have big results, like your kind touch and soothing voice or even giving them some alone time. Anything you do to distract them from their stressful situation helps in the moment helps, but only after you have given your pet what they need- attention, affection, play time, fresh air, quality food, treats and appropriate physical stimulation (walks, access to climb, jump, roll, dig etc).

Another way to distract your pet from outside stressors is to use comforting products designed to soothe pets. Items like the ThunderShirt help dogs feel physically comforted during particularly stressful moments. Likewise, giving your furry friend a comfort object like a stuffed animal will help to distract them and keep them from being lonely during the day while you’re away.

5. Hire a Walker

If your pet has issues with separation anxiety, you might consider hiring someone to visit them during the day. By giving your pet some consistency and routine when it comes to getting exercise, they will feel more comfortable overall in their environment. Another helpful trick to combat separation anxiety is to use video chat technology to check in with your pet throughout the day. This way, your fur baby will know that you haven’t forgotten about them.

Anxious pets can be difficult to deal with, but there are ways to treat this type of anxiety. Keep this guide in mind to help your pet de-stress.

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