24/09/2025
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Anxiety is an emotional response to cues associated with potential, rather than immediate, danger. Itβs often confused with fear, but they are distinct. Fear is typically a reaction to a clearly defined threat, something the animal can see, hear, or sense. Anxiety, in contrast, arises in situations where the danger is ambiguous, unpredictable, or distant.
Both fear and anxiety trigger similar behavioural and physiological responses, such as increased arousal, alertness, and stress hormone release. However, while fear often results in immediate avoidance or escape, anxiety is marked by hyper-vigilance, scanning, and cautious investigation. Itβs adaptive, preparing the animal to assess risk and respond appropriately.
Anxiety serves a protective purpose in moderate forms. A basal level of anxiety helps animals scan their surroundings and stay alert, such as a grazing deer lifting its head periodically. But when anxiety becomes chronic or extreme, it can compromise welfare, leading to stress-related illnesses, behavioural problems, and reduced performance.
While anxiety can be managed, it's rarely eliminated. Certain anxieties, like separation distress or neophobia, can have serious welfare implications if left unaddressed. Effective strategies often combine behavioural modification with, in some cases, pharmacological support.
Crucially, early life experiences and genetic predisposition play a role. Predictable, enriched environments during juvenile stages can reduce trait anxiety and support more resilient coping strategies.
Anxiety is a normal, often adaptive, emotional response to uncertainty. But when it becomes excessive or chronic, it can deeply affect an animalβs health and quality of life. Understanding its nuances allows us to support our animals with compassion, science, and care.
