What Are Some Of The Indicators Of Stress In Dogs
Pacing or shaking. You have seen your dog shake after a bath or a roll in the grass. That whole body shake can be amusing and is quite normalunless it is occurring as the result of a stressful situation. For example, dogs are commonly stressed when visiting the veterinarian. Many dogs shake it off when they descend from the exam table and touch down on the ground. Dogs, like people, also pace when agitated. Some dogs walk a repeated path around the exam room while waiting for the veterinarian to come in.
Whining or barking. Vocalization is normal self-expression in dogs but may be intensified when they are under stress. Dogs that are afraid or tense may whine or bark to get your attention, or to self soothe.
Yawning, drooling, and licking. Dogs yawn when they are tired or bored, they also yawn when stressed. A stressful yawn is more prolonged and intense than a sleepy yawn. Dogs may also drool and lick excessively when nervous.
Changes in eyes and ears. Stressed dogs, like stressed people, may have dilated pupils and blink rapidly. They may open their eyes really wide and show more sclera than usual, giving them a startled appearance. Ears that are usually relaxed or alert are pinned back against the head.
Changes in body posture. Dogs normally bear even weight on all four legs. If a healthy dog with no orthopedic problems shifts his weight to his rear legs or cowers, he may be exhibiting stress. When scared, dogs may also tuck their tails or become quite rigid.
Things You Should Know About Stress
Everyone feels stressed from time to time, but what is stress? How does it affect your overall health? And what can you do to manage your stress?
Stress is how the brain and body respond to any demand. Any type of challengesuch as performance at work or school, a significant life change, or a traumatic eventcan be stressful.
Stress can affect your health. It is important to pay attention to how you deal with minor and major stressors, so you know when to seek help.
Here are five things you should know about stress.
How Much Stress Is Too Much
Because of the widespread damage stress can cause, its important to know your own limit. But just how much stress is too much differs from person to person. Some people seem to be able to roll with lifes punches, while others tend to crumble in the face of small obstacles or frustrations. Some people even thrive on the excitement of a high-stress lifestyle.
Factors that influence your stress tolerance level include:
Your support network. A strong network of supportive friends and family members is an enormous buffer against stress. When you have people you can count on, lifes pressures dont seem as overwhelming. On the flip side, the lonelier and more isolated you are, the greater your risk of succumbing to stress.
Your sense of control. If you have confidence in yourself and your ability to influence events and persevere through challenges, its easier to take stress in stride. On the other hand, if you believe that you have little control over your lifethat youre at the mercy of your environment and circumstancesstress is more likely to knock you off course.
Your attitude and outlook. The way you look at life and its inevitable challenges makes a huge difference in your ability to handle stress. If youre generally hopeful and optimistic, youll be less vulnerable. Stress-hardy people tend to embrace challenges, have a stronger sense of humor, believe in a higher purpose, and accept change as an inevitable part of life.
You May Like: How To Relieve Back Stress
The Consequences Of Long
If we are not taught healthy ways to manage the unpleasant sensations of stress, we might respond with unhealthy self-soothing or even if we do know but we just ‘dont want to deal with it right now’ we might try to ‘escape’ rather than actually deal with the root cause.
Of course some escapism, especially talking to friends or perhaps watching something funny on TV can help restore our emotional balance but at that point it is important to deal with the cause of the stress, otherwise were simply papering over cracks rather than doing anything truly effective to help our own growth.
If we are not taught healthy ways to manage the unpleasant sensations of stress, we might respond with unhealthy self-soothing.
Further, burying negative emotions ie simply ignoring it – can lead to a number of mental health issues. If you never resolve the issue, it can result in ineffective behaviour strategies to cope, such as avoidance of the person, people, or place which causes the discomfort which in turn can lead to isolation, and that can lead to social anxiety, anxiety and depression.
Further, if you do not deal with emotions in a healthy way, you may engage in self-medication to help supress them, such as drugs, alcohol or over-eating and this can have huge physical consequences including detrimental effects on the brain and body.
To overcome and recover from stress try the following tips:
Acknowledge your feelings
Find an outlet
Ask for help
Behavioural Symptoms Of Stress
There are a number of potential indicators which suggest that a persons wellbeing is suffering so it might be that someone else points these out or you see them in yourself or others. These signs include:
- Irritability.
- Seeming very tired or complaining they arent sleeping.
- Not voicing concerns or stopped talking to management despite an open door policy.
- A change in eating habits eating or drinking more or less than usual- and if eating more – often of high calorie items.
- Susceptibility to illness .
- Tearfulness.
- Not wanting to talk about something is a key behaviour. .
- Getting angry suddenly and out of proportion to what was asked/said can also indicate deeper issues.
- Fidgety or nervous habits such as nail biting.
- Increase in drug or alcohol use.
Then there are the more subtle signs which may need closer observation, for example, slumping or a slower walk, or a lapse in personal grooming.
All of these signs may be indicators of other issues, but they are also commonly related to stress, often because one of the first things to be affected is the sleep pattern which in turn may have further repercussions on concentration, interactions and ability to perform to the standards they would want. It never hurts, if you do notice any of these in others or recognise them in yourself to stop and ask are you/am I really ok?
Read Also: Can Stress Elevate Liver Enzymes
Understanding Stress Is The Key To Keeping It Under Control
Youre up against a deadline at work. Your kids are fighting as youre trying to finish an assignment. You are stuck in traffic and have dinner in the back seat. On top of all that, your email pingsyoure late to pay your credit card bill. Your heart rate spikes, you start sweating, and your mind begins to race.
If you felt yourself respond to the thought of being in those situations, youre experiencing a reaction to stress. While we all experience stress each day, an unhealthy amount of stress can be dangerous to both our physical and mental health.
Who Is This Stress Quiz For
Answer the quiz questions below to see if you or a loved one may be suffering from too much stress.
The questions below relate to life experiences common among people who are enduring a significant amounts of stress. Please read each question carefully, and indicate how often you have experienced the same or similar challenges in the past few months.
Also Check: How Do You Reduce Anxiety And Stress
Recognising Your Stress Triggers
If you’re not sure what’s causing your stress, keep a diary and make a note of stressful episodes for two-to-four weeks. Then review it to spot the triggers.
Things you might want to write down include:
- the date, time and place of a stressful episode
- what you were doing
- a stress rating
You can use the diary to:
- work out what triggers your stress
- work out how you operate under pressure
- develop better coping mechanisms
Doctors sometimes recommend keeping a stress diary to help them diagnose stress.
You Have A Constant Headache That Just Wont Go Away
If you experience throbbing or feel pressure anywhere on the head or temple area, theres a good chance its a tension or stress headache, says Dr. Colgan. Oftentimes people point to particular troubles in their life that might be causing this pain, but lifestyle might be to blame instead. Keep in mind, if your head pain feels like a migraine headache, the worst headache of your life, or a headache that wakens you from sleep, those are signs of a dangerous health problem. You should visit a doctor immediately, advises Dr. Colgan.
What to do: When stress is the cause of your headache, the easiest thing to say is, have less stress in your life. But that advice itself is stressful, says Dr. Colgan. Knowing what your headaches coming from is helpful therapy. People oftentimes feel worse worrying and trying to figure out what the cause could be. So knowing its not some serious health problem may make a person feel better. Sometimes the most effective way a doctor can treat a patient is to teach them about their symptoms, says Dr. Colgan.
Read Also: How To Recover From Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Who Is Affected By Stress
All of us can probably recognise some of the feelings described above. Some people seem to be more affected by stress than others. For some people, getting out of the door on time each morning can be a very stressful experience, whereas others may be less affected with a great deal of pressure.
Some people are more likely to experience stressful situations than others. For example:
- people with a lot of debt or financial insecurity are more likely to be stressed about money
- people from minority ethnic groups or who are LGBTIQ+ are more likely to be stressed about prejudice or discrimination
- people with disabilities or long-term health conditions are more likely to be stressed about their health or about stigma associated with their condition.
Find The Help You Need
If youre diagnosed with stress, dont fretthere is hope for people dealing with both acute and chronic stress. There are many things you can do to avoid stressful situations and manage the stress youre already dealing with.
The first step is figuring out what your triggers are so you can avoid them. Even if you cant avoid your triggers, understanding them so you can proactively deal with stress is important.
If you are having trouble managing stress and its mental and physical effects, you may need help from a health care professional. You dont need to struggle on your own. Call your primary care physician or a local mental health facility, like McLean, to find the care you need.
Don’t Miss: What’s Good To Take For Stress
Don’t Suffer In Silence
Get support, whether from family, friends, your academic advisor, campus counseling center, or a trusted online community. A heart-to-heart talk with someone you trust can help you get rid of toxic feelings and may even give you a fresh perspective.
If these steps don’t bring relief, or if you are still unable to cope and feel as if the stress is affecting how you function every day, it could be something more acute and chronic–like depression. Don’t let it go unchecked!
Signs That Your Dog Is Stressed
See files for Dogs
There are some very clear signs that can tell you that your dog is suffering from stress. Do you know how to spot them?
If you think your best friend might be suffering from stress and anxiety, we suggest that you keep reading this AnimalWised article. We’ll go over the 10 signs that your dog is stressed which, whether considered in isolation or in conjunction with others, can translate into a serious health problem that directly affects your dog’s well-being and health.
Don’t waste another minute! Find out if your dog is suffering from stress and learn how you can help it below.
You May Like: Can Your Chest Hurt From Stress
You Need A Drink After Work
Occasionally getting together with your office pals and relaxing over cocktails is great for blowing off steam. But if happy hour is a critical part of your workday, says Hobfoll, and you feel you need a drink or cant wait ’til the end of the week, it can be a sign youre far too stressed at work.
Stress Is Bad For You
Its true that long-term feelings of stress can lead to medical problems, but that doesnt mean that all stress is bad. The reason our bodies react to stress is to prepare for situations where increased muscle tension or a higher heart rate may be necessary for a better health outcome. In addition, stress reactions help you identify triggers so that unnecessary stressors can be addressed or avoided altogether.
Don’t Miss: How To Fight Stress Acne
Your Digestive System Feels Off
A persons belly may be one of the first places to experience the symptoms of stress or anxiety.
The brain has a direct effect on the stomach and intestines,Harvard Health explained. It noted that even when a person merely thinks about food, his or her stomach will release acids in preparation of a meal.
This brain-to-stomach connection is a two-way street that can cause a vicious cycle of stress-related effects. According to Harvard Health, A troubled intestine can send signals to the brain, just as a troubled brain can send signals to the gut. And, in return, stress can cause an increase in stomach acids, thus causing digestive issues like an ulcer. Symptoms of a stressor pepticulcer include burning pain in the stomach, nausea, and bloating.
Relieving Stress Is The Same For Everybody
Exercising might be a great way for some people to combat stress, but it may lead to someone else feeling even more stressed about going to the gym. Addressing and treating stress is far from the same for everybody, so you need to figure out a treatment option that works for you.
If youre uncertain about how to start pushing back on your stress, talking to your health care provider can help initiate your stress reduction journey.
Recommended Reading: How To Avoid Stress Acne
Whats The Difference Between Stress And Anxiety
Knowing the difference can ensure you get the help you need.
Whats the difference between stress and anxiety?
Theres a fine line between stress and anxiety. Both are emotional responses, but stress is typically caused by an external trigger. The trigger can be short-term, such as a work deadline or a fight with a loved one or long-term, such as being unable to work, discrimination, or chronic illness. People under stress experience mental and physical symptoms, such as irritability, anger, fatigue, muscle pain, digestive troubles, and difficulty sleeping.
Anxiety, on the other hand, is defined by persistent, excessive worries that dont go away even in the absence of a stressor. Anxiety leads to a nearly identical set of symptoms as stress: insomnia, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, muscle tension, and irritability.
Both mild stress and mild anxiety respond well to similar coping mechanisms. Physical activity, a nutritious and varied diet, and good sleep hygiene are a good starting point, but there are other .
Anxiety disorders are common. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, 19% of Americans over the age of 18 had an anxiety disorder in the past year, and 31% of Americans will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetimes.
The Most Common Emotional And Cognitive Symptoms Of Short
When youre under a lot of stress, you may find that youre more emotional than usual or crankier. Here are some signs to look for:
- Anxiety or nervousness in the American Psychological Associations 2017 Stress in America survey, 36 percent of people report that stress makes them feel more nervous or anxious.
- Anger or irritability in the APA survey, 35 percent of people report this.
- Difficulty concentrating or forgetfulness
Read Also: How To Manage Anger And Stress
How Can I Help My Dog Handle Stressful Situations
In order to differentiate stress signs from normal behavior, you must be familiar with your dogs regular demeanor. Then you can tell if he is licking his lips because he is anxious or because he wants a treat.
When relaxed, he will have semi-erect or forward-facing ears, a soft mouth, and round eyes. He will distribute his weight evenly on all four paws. Distinguishing normal behavior from stress signs will help you quickly and effectively diffuse an uncomfortable situation.
“If your dog is stressed, first remove him from the stressor.”
If your dog is stressed, first remove him from the stressor. Find a quiet place for him to regroup. Resist the urge to overly comfort him. If you want to pamper him with petting or treats, make him earn them first by performing an activity . Responding to routine commands distracts the dog and provides a sense of normalcy. It is amazing how comforting sit, down, and heel can be to a worried dog.
If your dog becomes consistently stressed, see your veterinarian. After ensuring that your dogs behavior does not have a medical basis, your veterinarian may refer you to a trainer or veterinary behaviorist to evaluate stress-related issues. They may also prescribe anxiety-reducing medications if appropriate.
