Recognizing Panic Attacks in Dogs: 6 Symptoms & Signs

Normally, our fur noses are quite relaxed contemporaries who do not tend to panic for no reason.

But panic attacks can happen in dogs, too—perhaps more often than you think.

Which Symptoms of a panic attack in dogs shows, we will explain to you in the following guide. We also tell you what you can do if you have a canine panic attack.

Panic attack symptoms in dogs: what are the typical signs?

When a dog is having a panic attack, a typical sign of a dog having a panic attack is that he his tail stuck between his legs.

This behavior can also be accompanied by flattened ears and extremely dilated pupils as other panic attack symptoms in dogs.

Dogs that have panicked also tend to pant and breathe very quickly, which can come close to hyperventilating.

You notice that your dog has sweaty paws? Then this is another symptom of a panic attack in dogs.

Let’s take a look at why these and other symptoms of a panic attack in dogs occur.

Pinched rod

Unless your dog is a whippet, for which this behavior is normal, a stuck tail is a surefire symptom of a canine panic attack.

Your dog is afraid, he is afraid of something – and with this signal he is telling you this fact.

Crouched posture

Panic equals fear. And when a dog is scared, a first reaction is to make yourself as small as possible.

A sign of a panic attack in dogs is a crouched posture. And by this symptom you can recognize a possible panic attack in the dog.

Dilated pupils

Dilated pupils – and also wide open eyes – are another sign you can spot a dog having a panic attack.

Panic – or fear – follows a stressful situation for the dog, for example noise.

This triggers stimuli in the nervous system, which in turn can lead to dilation of the pupils.

Panting & rapid breathing

If a panic attack is imminent or has already broken out, dogs begin to pant and breathe extremely quickly.

Why? Because panic attacks often trigger the feeling of being unable to breathe.

By panting, the dog tries to counteract this supposed shortness of breath.

tachycardia

Not only breathing is affected by a panic attack in dogs. Heart rate also suffers when a dog suffers an anxiety attack.

Heart palpitations are a typical panic attack symptom in dogs, by which you can recognize a panic attack in dogs.

restlessness

Restlessness is also one of the canine panic attack symptoms, which can be accompanied by additional symptoms.

Your dog seems nervous here. This condition can express itself through whimpering and yelping as well as through behavior with which the panic is to be compensated.

For example, does your dog start licking a certain part of its body frantically? Or does he run around in circles?

Then these can also be signs of a panic attack in the dog.

When should I go to the vet and what are the treatment options for panic attacks in dogs?

Have you recognized the above symptoms of a panic attack in dogs? Then arrange a timely visit to the veterinarian.

Because panic means stress for the dog. And stress, in turn, can mean a number of diseases and behavioral problems for the dog and lead to trauma.

Of course, both of these episodes should ideally be avoided entirely—for the sake of both of you.

diagnosis

Panic attacks are divided into 4 categories, which are considered the 4 Fs of canine panic:

• freeze
• flight
• Fight (aggression)
• fool around

These signs of a panic attack can help a veterinarian make a possible diagnosis as to whether your dog is actually suffering from them.

However, it is not really easy to diagnose a panic attack in dogs, as the symptoms mentioned can also be triggered by a physical illness.

The diagnosis of a panic attack can therefore include some tests that rule out an organic cause or an infection.

Treatment

Treating panic attacks in dogs is therefore not easy either. Noise phobias in particular can be treated with medication.

These contain active ingredients that prevent the release of certain hormones, which in turn are responsible for triggering nerve stimuli.

Such a remedy is, for example, Sileo for dogs.

prevention

The most effective prophylaxis against canine anxiety attacks is if you bring a minimum of relaxation into the four walls yourself.

The more stressed you are, the more likely that it will be your fur nose as a result.

This is especially true if it belongs to the particularly sensitive dog breeds, such as the French bulldog or the pug.

You should also avoid exposing your dog to high levels of noise and chaos.

These factors can have a negative impact on your fur nose in both the short and long term.

To prevent panic attacks in dogs, natural sedatives, which have a positive effect on the nervous system, are suitable, among other things.

CBD for dogs, which is available in different concentrations, is becoming increasingly popular.

The active ingredients from the medicinal plants valerian and passion flower can also have a calming effect on the nervous system after just a few days.

Has your furry friend ever had a panic attack? how could you help her We’d love for you to share your tips with us in our comments.