25/08/2025
Consider the build up to a grooming session. As well as what happens afterwards as your dog needs calming environments to rest.
Constant and high levels of stress in dogs can have a significant and damaging impact on their physical and mental health. While acute, or short-term, stress is a normal response that helps a dog react to a perceived threat, chronic, or long-term, stress can lead to a variety of serious health problems.
The Physiological Effects of Chronic Stress
When a dog is stressed, its body releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. In a short-lived stressful event, these hormones help the dog by increasing heart rate, reducing digestion, and sharpening senses. However, when stress is chronic, the body's systems remain in this "fight or flight" mode, leading to a cascade of negative effects:
* Immune System Suppression: The sustained release of cortisol weakens the immune system, making the dog more susceptible to infections and diseases. This can also slow down wound healing.
* Gastrointestinal Issues: Stress is strongly linked to digestive problems. A dog with chronic stress may experience symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, colitis, or a change in appetite (either a decrease or an increase).
* Cardiovascular and Endocrine Problems: Elevated cortisol levels can lead to hormonal imbalances, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of developing chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
* Skin and Coat Problems: Stress can cause skin irritations, excessive shedding, and an increase in licking, chewing, and scratching, which can lead to skin disorders.
* Delayed Healing: Chronic stress has been shown to slow down the body's ability to regenerate tissue, which lengthens the time it takes for a dog to recover from injuries or illnesses.
Behavioral and Psychological Impacts
Beyond the physical health concerns, chronic stress profoundly affects a dog's behavior and psychological well-being. These changes can be subtle at first and may be misinterpreted as disobedience.
* Behavioral Disorders: A dog under constant stress may develop obsessive-compulsive behaviors, such as excessive licking or tail chasing. They may also become destructive, chewing furniture or digging.
* Increased Aggression: Long-term stress can make a dog irritable and more prone to aggression, which may manifest as growling, snapping, or biting in situations where they would normally be calm.
* Anxiety and Fear: Chronic stress can lead to a heightened state of fear or nervous anticipation. This can cause a dog to be hypervigilant, constantly on alert for danger, and unable to relax.
* Learned Helplessness: In severe cases of unmitigated stress, a dog may "shut down" and cease to learn, a condition known as learned helplessness. This can be mistaken for a dog that has become calm, but it's a sign of a deeply stressed state.
* Changes in Social Interaction: A stressed dog may become withdrawn and show a lack of desire to interact with people or other pets.
Signs of Chronic Stress in Dogs.
It's crucial for pet owners to recognize the signs of chronic stress in their dogs. They can range from subtle to obvious and may include:
* Body Language: Tense or stiff body, ears pinned back, tail low or tucked, dilated pupils, "whale eye" (the whites of the eyes showing).
* Physical Symptoms: Pacing, shaking, panting, excessive drooling or shedding, frequent urination or defecation, changes in appetite.
* Behavioral Cues: Yawning or lip licking when not tired or after eating, whining, barking, or howling excessively, hiding, avoiding social interaction, or destructive behavior.
If you suspect your dog is suffering from chronic stress, it's essential to consult with a veterinarian to rule out any underlying medical conditions. They may recommend working with a professional animal behaviorist to identify the sources of stress and develop a plan to help your dog feel safer and more secure. During a grooming session it can also be of benefit to consult with an Holistic dog groomer.
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