Yes, Dogs Can Have Anxiety, Too—Here's How You Can Help

Taysha Murtaugh
Updated
Photo credit: @wat.ki via Instagram
Photo credit: @wat.ki via Instagram

From Country Living

Meet Kiko.

I know someone who loves to play "peekaboo" Hint: He is fluffy, red and absolutely adorable. Do you know who he is? 🙈

A post shared by Watson • Kiko (@wat.ki) on Jun 7, 2017 at 5:31am PDT

The golden retriever is 1/2 of the popular Instagram duo, Watson and Kiko. Kiko's best friend, Watson, is a white golden retriever who is famous for his "trust falls". The cute canines can be seen cuddling (sometimes with their feline friend, Harry) in countless images on the account.

What dogs do best. Love each other no matter what.

A post shared by Watson • Kiko (@wat.ki) on Nov 11, 2016 at 11:26am PST

But despite his adorable appearance, Kiko has a sad secret. He suffers from anxiety. Yes, you read that right: Animals can have anxiety issues, too.

"Anxiety in pets is much the same as it is in humans. It's a chemical response in the brain," explains Gary Richter, MS, DVM, and author. "Just as with humans, it is not voluntary and neither your pet nor a human can easily make a conscious decision to 'turn it off'."

Sometimes, pets are genetically predisposed for anxiety, Richter says. " In other cases, anxiety is a learned behavior. Dogs and cats are creatures of habit and pattern. When their normal routine is disrupted it can cause stress and anxiety. For example, if a person works from home every day, their pet gets accustomed to them being there all the time. If the person then gets a new job, which takes them out of the house, this is a disruption in routine and may cause anxiety."

- Some of you already know who the golden in the photo is, his name is Kiko older brother to Watson and came to live with us when he was 4. - Kiko suffers from anxieties. I thought a lot of people were familiar with this. That animals can also suffer from PTSD or anxieties. But I was wrong. - Dogs can have anxieties. It's very common in rescued dogs who have had a bad and traumatic experience in life. But also keep in mind that dogs that have never been in a bad situation can also have anxieties. For example, your dog can be scared of thunder, fireworks or afraid of being alone. If your dog cries a lot, barks and hurts him self while any of the events mention above are happening then he or she have anxiety problems. - Kiko's anxieties are different. He is not scared of thunder, fireworks or loud noises. He is constantly afraid of being alone and always afraid that I will abandon him because of his past experiences. He have been a hard boy to handle in so many situations. His anxieties levels are high. He barks at me and cries when we stop just for a moment while we are taking a walk in the park. I'm not allowed to stop for to long I have to be constantly moving for him to be okay. - When Kiko came to live with me the first few months were hard. He wasn't well trained and was hurting himself. I then learned that because my dog had anxieties and he was afraid of being alone he was constantly licking his paws or back legs. Because he was trying to comfort himself he will lick and lick leading to him having some weird wounds in his paws and back legs. - Kiko no longer licks his back legs but he does sometimes licks his paws and I've had to keep an eye on him when I notice his anxieties levels are high. Just to make sure he doesn't hurt himself. Watson is a great help to Kiko. It keeps him company and Watson have thought him good manners. Making it a bit easy for me to try and train him. - Do your research if you think your dog suffers from anxieties or talk to your vet. Look for signs of discomfort in your pet and help them heal emotionally and fiscally if they hurt themselves. - Thanks for for taking the time to read this.

A post shared by Watson • Kiko (@wat.ki) on May 7, 2017 at 6:50am PDT

Loud noises like fireworks and thunderstorms may also lead to anxiety, as can inadequate socialization as in youth and experiences of abandonment. That's what happened to Kiko, who was stolen from his owner at the age of one. Three sad years later, she finally gave up hope of his return and got a new dog, Watson. Incredibly, Kiko was found in California shortly after and returned, skinny, flea-ridden, and anxious, to his original owner in Washington.

Do you know who Is Kiko? Kiko is that golden dog with the goofy smile you see on our feed. But Kiko has a sad, complicated story. Kiko suffers from really bad anxieties. We have to be extra careful with him. He has shown signs of aggression towards some dogs when he is stressed or feels insecure. He is good with all people but he could be misunderstood at times. So his family (us) try our best to make him feel safe. - Kiko was given to me as a companion in 2011. I spent time with him during his puppy stage. He was almost a year old when he was taken and I didn't see him for three long years. He was lost and I thought I'd never see him again. My hope was gone and after those three hard years pasted I was ready for a new companion. I really wanted a puppy to hold and love. So that's when Watson came into my life. But life can surprise you at times. And destiny decided that Kiko and I should be reunited. So a good friend drove him all the way from California where he was found to Washington. Kiko was a bit skinny, had fleas and was missing some hair. But the worst was his fear and the insecurity he has. - Watson was about 6 months when we introduced Kiko to him. Slowly I learned that Watson was helping him with his anxieties. They quickly became inseparable and best friends. Although this Instagram account started just about Watson it has become more than that. It's about two golden retriever brothers who found each other to love and help one another. To inspire people with there story and to teach others and myself about compassion, love and the true value of friendship. I think I wasn't meant to be Kiko's best friend but Watson for sure was. And even though I love Kiko so much I know that Watson is his true love and if that makes him happy it makes me happy. - Hope you liked reading about Kiko's rescue story.

A post shared by Watson • Kiko (@wat.ki) on Feb 5, 2017 at 7:17am PST

How to Know if Your Pet is Anxious

"If they begin behaving in ways that are outside their normal pattern, it could be a sign of stress," Richter says. Behaviors such as pacing, vocalization, inappropriate urination/defecation, etc. are all signs of an anxious animal. They may either seek out more attention and get 'clingy' or they may isolate themselves and hide. Some pets may even try to run away. It all depends on the individual."

Kiko is afraid of being alone and used to lick his paws and legs to self-soothe, leading to sores, his owner explained on Instagram. He also barks if they stop too long on walks and sometimes acts aggressive around other dogs. His owner works hard to make sure he feels safe, but the biggest source of comfort has come from his fellow dog, Watson. "Slowly I learned that Watson was helping [Kiko] with his anxieties," she shared. "They quickly became inseparable and best friends."

Best friends stay weird, Best friends have watermelon helmets 🙈 - Ps. Watson was trying so hard to balance that watermelon in his head, while Kiko was all pro.

A post shared by Watson • Kiko (@wat.ki) on Apr 9, 2017 at 7:32am PDT

Branch Manager and Assistant Branch Manager. - I have an account (@rustedivory) I will be sharing photographs of Watson and kiko's wild side. More outdoor adventures and fun explorations. Check it out and if you are curious how the name @rustedivory came to be check our last post their to find out 😉

A post shared by Watson • Kiko (@wat.ki) on Mar 25, 2017 at 9:28am PDT

What To Do if You Suspect Your Pet is Anxious

Seek out the professional help of a veterinarian, trainer, or behaviorist with experience treating anxiety. "Just like in humans however, anxiety is tough to deal with because it is not a 'rational' behavior," Richter says. "It's instinctual and chemical. If you can't talk a person out of a panic attack, you certainly can't talk a dog down from one."

The solution could be as simple as spending more time with your dog, Richter says, but in more serious circumstances, a vet may also prescribe medications. " In my practice, we use natural alternatives (valerian, l-theanine, lavender, CBD) to help with anxiety as well," Richter explains. For Kiko, extra love and attention from his family-especially Watson-seems to have worked wonders.

Having a long rest before our long drive tomorrow. We will be spending 10 days on the Oregon coast. It will be Watson's first time to see the ocean. So I'm super excited about what this cute puppy will do. - Hope to take some fun photos of our adventures and be able to share them with you all.

A post shared by Watson • Kiko (@wat.ki) on Mar 11, 2017 at 10:14am PST

"Although this Instagram account started just about Watson it has become more than that. It's about two golden retriever brothers who found each other to love and help one another," reads a caption on Kiko and Watson's Instagram. "To inspire people with there [sic] story and to teach others and myself about compassion, love and the true value of friendship. I think I wasn't meant to be Kiko's best friend but Watson for sure was. And even though I love Kiko so much I know that Watson is his true love and if that makes him happy it makes me happy."

Hello Monday. Not sure we are ready to see you... But we will make today as productive as possible 👍 -

A post shared by Watson • Kiko (@wat.ki) on Jan 16, 2017 at 7:11am PST

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