Does dog anxiety get worse with age?

Age Anxiety occurs when aging dogs experience confusion due to cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS), which is similar to Alzheimer’s Disease in humans. An illness or painful condition can increase dog anxiety. Dog anxiety does not have to be a life sentence. A healthy dog—both physically and mentally—will generally have less dog anxiety. Always give your dog proper nutrition and plenty of exercise and playtime. Is your dog showing symptoms of dog anxiety? Once you have discussed the symptoms of dog anxiety with your veterinarian, it is time to evaluate possible treatments to relieve the stress your dog is experiencing. Again, your veterinarian is your best resource for accurately identifying the type of dog anxiety, and also to determine possible causes, trigger and solutions.

As dogs age, some show a significant increase in anxiety and other behavioral issues. With a potential decrease in their senses of hearing, sight and smell, dogs can startle more easily. It may be more generalized, with your dog seeming to enjoy things less or even being jumpier. If your dog is showing more extensive signs of anxiety—from panting, shaking, trembling and irritability to having sleep and appetite issues—you need to pay closer attention. It is recognized that increased anxiety is a distinct component of dogs that start to experience a form of dementia called cognitive dysfunction syndrome (CDS) or canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD), similar to Alzheimer’s in humans. Other aspects of CDS can be summarized with the acronym DISHAA: Disorientation; Social Interactions; Sleep/wake cycles; House-soiling (learning and memory); Activity (change in levels); and Anxiety. Move slowly around your dogs and carefully approach them as sensory deficits (e.g., loss of hearing, sight) coupled with anxiety can make them irritable and even aggressive. They may feel abandoned at nighttime when you sleep or experience separation anxiety when you leave the house.