There are several behavioural symptoms that might indicate that your dog is stressed or anxious. Some of these include:

• Withdrawing into themselves
• Appetite loss
• Barking
• Whining, panting, trembling and shivering
• Restlessness, lethargy and destructive behaviour (especially destructive chewing). Destructive behaviour is particularly common in dogs who are experiencing stress due to separation anxiety.

There are several behavioural symptoms that might indicate that your cat is stressed or anxious. Some of these include:

• Appetite loss
• Destructive behaviour such as scratching furniture
• Changes in grooming
• Hiding or trying to escape
• Aggression
• Toileting outside of the litter box
• Excessive vocalization

Anxiety in pets is fairly common. They can become anxious for a number of reasons, including:

Separation anxiety - Dogs are generally social creatures and can feel anxious if they are left home alone with no social contact. This may manifest itself as destructive chewing, barking, going to the toilet in the wrong place, and digging.

A new addition to the household - Bringing a new puppy, kitten or baby home can be hugely stressful for pets. This is linked to territorial anxiety and fears that they will no longer be as important now that your attention is being shared.

Disruption to routine - Pets are not keen on changes to their daily routine. Moving house is a big culprit for this, but any change to normal everyday life can have a big impact. For example, disruption to their usual feeding routine or walks can cause distress and anxiety.

Illness and injury - Pain and distress from an illness and injury can make your pet more dependent on you than normal. This can make them more anxious when left alone.

While you can’t remove all sources of stress and anxiety for your pet, you can reduce them. Our tips include:

Make time for stimulating play - Lack of exercise can negatively affect your pet’s mental health and stress them out. This becomes even more likely if a lack of playtime also means that there is less interaction with you. Try playing some stimulating indoor games with your pet to build a stronger bond and ensure that your pet doesn’t become stressed due to lack of contact.

Stick to a normal routine - Always try to keep to your pet’s normal schedule. This can be challenging if you’re moving house or if there is a new arrival in the home but a lack of routine will only increase your pet’s anxiety in these situations.

Be careful with introductions - Bringing a new puppy, kitten or baby home may be very stressful for your pet. The initial introductions must be done in a sensitive manner to avoid resentment and jealousy.

Desensitise your dog - If your dog is suffering from separation anxiety, it’s recommended that you try to desensitise them to your departure as part of the treatment. Get your dog used to the idea of your absence by leaving them alone for short bursts of time, gradually increasing it daily over a period of one to two weeks. This will reassure your dog that you will return.

Try calming products - There are a number of calming products that can be used to help dogs cope with environmental changes. Supplements like Zylkene help to promote feelings of relaxation. Or, if your pet isn’t keen on tablets, Adaptil and Feliway diffusers are scientifically proven to help anxious cats and dogs.

If you have any concerns, speak to your vet.