Whether you've recently bought or adopted a dog, you may have noticed that the animal seems to have anxiety. Your dog may have anxiety because of past experiences with other animals or caretakers, especially if the animal is a victim of prior neglect. Some dogs are naturally more anxious than others and may struggle with anxiety when it comes to being home alone or hearing loud, unusual sounds. If your dog is acting uneasy, you're probably concerned about the toll it's taking on your four-legged friend. However, you should know that treatment is available for animals with anxiety. A veterinarian may prescribe compounded pet medication to help ease the symptoms of anxiety.
How to Tell If Your Pup Struggles With Anxiety
Monitor your dog's behavior each day and take note of any behavior that seems out of the ordinary to you. Make sure you know what signs to look for in dogs with anxiety. The most common symptoms include:
- Chronic Crying. If your dog feels anxious, it might spend hours crying. It's possible that this only happens when you leave home. If it's only happening when you have to go to work or go somewhere else outside of the home, your dog likely has separation anxiety and doesn't want to be left at home without you there.
- Constant Chewing. When dogs have anxiety, they may continuously chew themselves, causing open sores on their skin. This can lead to large wounds and infections when untreated.
- Ruining Stuff in Your Home. Sure, puppies and dogs with no proper training can cause a lot of damage. However, if you have a well-trained pup that suddenly starts damaging some items in your house, such as your couch, bed, and clothes, it's likely due to anxiety.
If your dog is displaying this type of behavior or any other behavioral issues that concern you, make an appointment to talk to your veterinarian about everything you've noticed. It's the best way to get help for your pet.
What Can the Veterinarian Do to Help Your Pet?
After talking to you about your dog's behavior, your vet can offer the proper diagnosis. If it turns out that your dog does have anxiety, the veterinarian may then provide a prescription for compounded medication. The medication may consist of an antidepressant that can boost your dog's mood, along with additional ingredients that make it easier for your pet to take medicine without putting up a fight. If the medication is too big or doesn't taste good enough to a dog, the animal might struggle to eat it, but that is when compounded pet medication can genuinely come in handy.
Why Is Compounded Medication Good for Dogs?
The compounded medication is suitable for dogs because pharmacists can combine different ingredients to create medicines that work specifically for each pet. When your dog has anxiety, the prescribed medicine may consist of the antidepressant medication known as amitriptyline, along with flavored suspensions that will make it more enticing to animals. The veterinary pharmacist can add any additional ingredients needed before creating the perfect capsules or chewable pills for your dog to consume. You may want to make sure the medication is small enough for you to conceal in your dog's food or a treat that your pet will enjoy, such as a spoonful of peanut butter.
If you're concerned because your dog regularly displays anxious behavior, it's the right time to talk to the veterinarian. The vet may suggest compounded pet medication that will taste good to your dog while reducing the symptoms associated with anxiety. If it can make your dog feel better and give you peace of mind, it's certainly worth it.
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