How To Treat Anxiety In Older Dogs Naturally

Weather it’s generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, anxiety caused by lack of bladder and bowel control, anxiety due to failing senses or stranger anxiety, your can offer your older dog some natural relief with dietary changes, natural pheromones, soothing music, grooming and massage, essential oils, supplements, established routines and more.

Animals can display symptoms of anxiety in many different ways. These may include a change in appetite, lethargy and restless behavior. Physical symptoms may include trembling, excessive licking, panting, biting itself and pacing about. The animal may need to urinate more frequently than usual, and may also turn aggressive.

Some older dogs are unable to tolerate periods of separation from their pet parents and may howl. When it is time for you to leave for work they may seem agitated or may become particularly subdued. Clearly, there are no specific symptoms that are displayed by all dogs when they are anxious. However, most pet owners will be able to identify when their older dogs display unusual behavior.

What Causes Anxiety in Older Dogs?

You may wonder why your dog, who seemed perfectly adjusted and happy a few months ago has become anxious. To understand this, you should realize that dogs do not age in the same manner as us. In fact, they age rapidly. The average lifespan for a dog is about ten to thirteen years.

In the winter of their lives, people tend to become more anxious about big and small things alike. Similarly, your dog may also display anxious behavior even if you are unable to identify a stressor. One of the most common causes of anxiety in older dogs is their deteriorating senses. They do not function as sharply as they did when they were younger.

Your dog’s sense of smell, sight and hearing may be affected. And this could make it insecure and uncomfortable. It may sleep for longer periods than it did before, and may not wish to go out as often. Sometimes pet parents say that their dog just seems sad. With its senses not working optimally, your pet depends on you for reassurance. In many ways, you are its security blanket, and when you are around, it feels comforted.

As a dog ages, its internal organs may be affected. The body may not efficiently produce the hormones that deal with stress. And this adds to the anxiety it experiences. Muscles and ligaments may be affected, as would the bladder and bowels. Older dogs like to keep to their routines, and a sudden change may also upset them and cause anxiety.

What are the Various Types of Anxieties in Older Dogs?

There are several types of anxieties that may affect your older dog. And to resolve them, you will first need to understand what causes the anxiety. The stress may be generalized or may be caused by a specific situation like the pet parent leaving the home for extended periods of time, like for work.

The most common types of anxiety for older dogs include:

• Generalized Anxiety
• Separation Anxiety
• Anxiety Caused by Lack of Bladder and Bowel Control
• Anxiety Due to Failing Senses
• Stranger Anxiety

Dealing with Generalized Anxiety

Generalized anxiety is displayed in the manner in which the animal behaves. There may not be a specific cause for the anxiety. Your pet may pace about restlessly, or it may lick or bite itself incessantly. It may also become clingy or may show a drastic change in its sleeping and eating patterns. Sometimes these symptoms may come on suddenly or over a period of time.

Dogs enjoy and thrive on a dependable routine. A predictable timetable makes them feel secure. In order to treat anxiety in older dogs naturally, it is a good idea to follow a set routine with regard to your pet’s eating, sleeping, playing time. Do not move the dog’s bed and toys around. The same goes for the furniture and traffic paths in your home.

Handling Separation Anxiety

Separation anxiety is typically caused when you have to leave your pet at home and go to work or out for the evening. The dog may begin to tremble, pace or whine as it recognizes signs of your impending departure. It may urinate or defecate inside the house. When a pet parent is away from home, some dogs may bark or whine incessantly or they may turn to chewing and gnawing on things you would prefer it didn’t, such as furniture, shoes and even the walls (yes, this actually happens).

They also like to ensure that the dog is comfortably settled on its bed and has its toys. Like many other pet owners, if you too are considering natural treatments for older dog anxiety, you will find anxiety calming shirts or coats to be useful. They swaddle the pet quite like one would wrap a baby to offer comfort. The gentle pressure that the coat offers, calms the animal and makes it feel secure.

Anxiety Caused by Lack of Bladder and Bowel Control

Often older dogs are unable to control their bladder and bowel movements, like they could when they were younger. This causes anxiety. In addition, urinating or defecating in the house upsets them further, as they are old enough to understand that it upsets their owners. This situation can be resolved by making a few changes to your daily routine. Of course, your pet will need to go out more often, so you may also consider hiring a dog walker to take your pet out when you are away or installing a pet door, or setting up an indoor, artificial grass pee area.

It is also recommended that you consult the veterinarian. Incontinence could be a symptom of an existing medical condition that requires medication. If needed, you could also resort to using a doggy diaper, as long as wearing one does not upset your pet.

And finally, and most importantly, it is imperative that you keep your cool if the dog has urinated and defecated in the house. At this point in the dog’s life they are not just breaking the rules and they will need more understanding and comfort. If you get angry, your dog is likely to become more anxious.

Anxiety Due to Failing Senses

Dogs are intelligent and perceptive animals. They have an acute sense of hearing, sight and smell. When their senses are no longer as sharp as they used to be, they tend to get nervous. You will have to pay a little extra attention to the manner in which your dog behaves to understand what makes it nervous.

If you find that its sight has dwindled, make sure that you are in its line of sight when you approach it or speak to it. If your home has stairs, you may consider installing a safety gate that will ensure that your pet is safe, and will also make it feel secure. You could install night lights in the hallways. This way your dog will comfortable walking around the house despite its failing night vision.

Stranger Anxiety

As a dog ages it may not be as comfortable dealing with strangers as it once was. This issue can be dealt with easily, by ensuring that strangers do not approach your dog. Instead, you should allow your dog to decide if it wishes to approach and interact with strangers.

If you are going away on work or on vacation, it is best to avoid leaving the dog at a kennel. You may instead wish to ask a relative or friend, that the dog is familiar with, to come stay with it. Keeping the dog in it’s recognized surroundings and routine will help ease it’s anxiety.

How Can I Calm My Dog’s Anxiety Naturally?

With age it is normal for dogs to show some amount of anxiety. You may like to consider natural treatments for older dog anxiety that will make it feel secure.

Dietary Changes

Veterinary researchers have found that dietary changes may also help a dog deal with anxiety.

Supplements

Supplements known to calm animals naturally include:

• Melatonin, a hormone
• Zylkene, a milk protein
• Omega 3 fatty acids, found in fish

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

You may want to add a nutritional supplement that adds omega 3 fatty acids (link opens Amazon in a new tab) to your dog’s diet. By making this minor change to the dietary intake, pet owners have found that symptoms caused by anxiety diminished. A study by Dr. Ragen McGowan, PhD of Nestlé Purina Research, found “from both a behavioral and physiological standpoint, increased intake of fish oil had a calming effect on anxious dogs.” In Dr. Ragen McGowan’s study, 87% of the anxious Labradors given fish oil showed a reduction in anxiety.

Probiotics

Probiotics are another dietary option that could help reduce anxiety in dogs. Like omega-3s, probiotics offer many benefits to your dog’s health beyond anxiety relief, including improving digestion and boosting their immune system. Be careful about purchasing probiotics for pets (link opens Amazon in a new tab), because in most cases, probiotic formulas developed for humans aren’t appropriate for dogs. Dogs have unique strains of bacteria. Further research by Dr. Ragan McGowan has shown that Bifidobacterium longum is effective in reducing anxiety in dogs.

Nutritional Needs

Another dietary issue to consider is your dog’s overall nutritional needs. Don’t forget that dogs are carnivores and the addition of grains, potatoes, and other carbs to popular pet foods is a relatively new addition to the species’ diet and may be adversely affecting your dog. Dogs are some of the most resilient animals, so they can still survive on foods they were necessarily meant to eat – but that doesn’t mean they should be eating it. Along with other changes in their diet, you should consider alternative diets such as a homemade diet, a raw diet or super premium foods.

If your dog has digestive issues, the veterinarian would be able to recommend products and a diet that may offer relief. You may consider different types of dog foods especially designed for older dogs. Reading a few product reviews may also reveal how other dogs with similar symptoms may have benefited from a change in diet.

Natural Pheromones

A dog’s body normally secretes certain hormones that help it deal with stress in an effective manner. As the dog ages, these hormones may not be secreted as smoothly and regularly as they once were. You may consider opting for a collar, spray or air diffuser that contains natural pheromones that calm the animal. Such products have to be used regularly and do not offer a onetime fix to the issue.

Soothing Music

Music is capable of soothing animals just like in humans. Research by the Scottish SPCA with the University of Glasgow indicates that playing soothing, soft music can relax your older dog. Animals responded positively to reggae and soft rock played at a low volume. It would be a good idea to observe your dog’s response to different kinds of music, before you choose what you wish to play for it. When you are outside the house, the relaxing dog music (link opens Amazon in a new tab) will provide a comforting setting for your dog.

Grooming and Massage

The time you spend grooming your dog is a special time for both of you. Just the simple act of brushing the coat, relaxes the animal and soothes it. It is a unique opportunity to bond with your pet. It will also allow you to spot any skin abrasions or lesions caused by excessive licking.

There is a reason why dogs love their ears and top of their heads rubbed. These are pressure points that relax the animal. Their feet are also sensitive and can be massaged. Spending fifteen to twenty minutes massaging and petting your dog will go a long way in alleviating anxiety and stress.

Keeping a Routine

As mentioned before, it is a good idea to follow a set routine with regard to your pet’s eating, sleeping, playing time. Do not move the dog’s bed and toys around. The same goes for the furniture and traffic paths in your home. The more aware your dog is about their surroundings, the more comfortable they feel.

Anxiety calming shirts, vests or coats

You may find anxiety calming shirts, vests or coats to be useful. As mentioned above, they swaddle the pet like a baby to offer comfort. The gentle pressure that the wrap offers, calms the animal and makes it feel secure. Gentle pressure is said to release chemicals called endorphins that promote a sense of well-being in animals.

Essential Oils

Natural treatments for older dog anxiety can include the sparing use of essential oils. Certain essential oils such as lavender (link opens Amazon in a new tab) are known to reduce stress in pets. You can put a drop on the corner of your dog’s blanket or coat. Your veterinarian may also recommend other essential oils that may be beneficial for the symptoms your dog displays. Do store the oils carefully and safely. And remember that animals are more sensitive to the fragrance of the oils than humans.

Conclusion

To treat anxiety in older dogs naturally, you will need to make choices that work best for your pet. There is no one sure shot answer to this issue. You will have to consider your dog’s behavior and accordingly make choices. Keeping to a regular schedule and routine offers animals, especially older ones, comfort and security. Furthermore, based on their diminishing senses you can take steps to ensure that they are comfortable in their surroundings. Your pet needs you to be a little patient and understanding of its aging body. If you reassure it and let it know that it is loved, it is likely to be happier and more confident in its golden years.

Sources:

1. Beata, C., Beaumont-Graff, E., Diaz, C., Marion, M., Massal, N., Marlois, N., Muller, G., & Lefranc, C. (2007). Effects of alpha-casozepine (Zylkene) versus selegiline hydrochloride (Selgian, Anipryl) on anxiety disorders in dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 2(5), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2007.08.001
2. ‌Boosting tranquility through nutrition. (2016, April 26). DVM 360. http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/boosting-tranquility-through-nutrition
3. Yang, Q., & Wu, Z. (2023). Gut Probiotics and Health of Dogs and Cats: Benefits, Applications, and Underlying Mechanisms. Microorganisms, 11(10), 2452–2452. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11102452
4. Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals | Scottish SPCA. (n.d.). Www.scottishspca.org. Retrieved February 12, 2024, from https://www.scottishspca.org/education/dog-music-research/

This article was reviewed and approved by a Licensed Veterinary Surgeon:

Dr. Maureen Murithi

Dr. Maureen Murithi is a licensed veterinary surgeon and an epidemiologist. With over 7 years of experience in Veterinary Medicine as well as 5 years of experience as a researcher, Dr. Murithi provides informative and well researched articles about pet care.