Maybe you have noticed some behavior changes in your dog. Perhaps, they are acting out or seem to show unusually clingy, tense or distant. Does Fido need a walk, a spa day or just longer hours of sleep? It turns out that your beloved puppies can also get stressed out like we do. To help all pet parents out there recognize when their dogs need a break, here are the signs to watch out for.
- Laid back ears
Dog ears look different, but stress can make it quite different. Some puppy ears look more erect if they feel uneasy, but many looked pulled back, becoming almost pinned back. As a pet parent, you should learn the positions of dog ears. This is a good sign to notice when you want to know if your pup is stressed out.
- Mouth gap
Are his lips curled back? Do you see more teeth than usual? Notice that curl before it transforms into a snarl, and then into a snap and finally into a bite. Veterinarians say that even whiskers can look more pointed in response to stress.
- Decrease in appetite
Dogs do not go on diets or fasting like humans do, so it is important to consult your vet if your puppy suddenly loses interest in food. This can be due to stress or an underlying health problem, such as anorexia, which causes the dog to refuse eating and its food intake to significantly decrease that it results to drastic weight loss.
- Increased sleeping
Perhaps by now, you’re already accustomed to your pet’s sleeping habits. If you start to notice that your canine is sleeping more than usual, talk to your vet and let your doggy checked immediately. Lethargy is usually one of the first symptoms of injury or trauma. The symptom can also be due to conditions like heart and liver problems, tumors, diabetes, severe dehydration, diarrhea, anemia and poisoning.
- Unusual aggression toward people
A bit of aggression towards people they do not know is normal. But if you’re seeing unusual aggression even towards someone in the family, this could be a sign of a sick and stressed out dog. Consult your vet as soon as possible before it gets worse.
Many signs of aggressiveness accompanied by fearful facial expression and body posture. Treatment for this focuses on behavior management to assist your dog with its anger and anxiety. Pet devices like muzzles can be helpful when you’re bringing your dog outside of the house to prevent causing injury to other people and animals.
Be mindful of these signs. While some of them aren’t as obvious as the others, they can be the key to ensuring the health of your little furry friend.