Fear is an emotion triggered by the perception of a threat. Fear is a basic, primal emotion that serves an adaptive purpose: it induces physiological and behavioral changes that prepare an animal to quickly react to danger.
Fear triggers a cascade of physiological changes that prepare an animal for fight or flight. These changes may include:
Frightened dogs and cats use body language to communicate that they are afraid. They may pace, fidget, freeze, or attempt to hide or flee. Subtle communications exhibited by fearful dogs and cats may include avoiding eye contact, looking away, lowering their head or body, tucking their tail, pinning back their ears, licking their lips, and yawning.
"A dog or cat that immediately lunges in the face of a threat may appear offensive, but may actually be very fearful."
Sometimes, a fearful dog or cat will attempt to fight. This aggressive response stems from a need to create distance from a threat and is most often exhibited when there is no option to flee or escape. When escape has been repeatedly blocked or if subtle communications are repeatedly ignored, an aggressive response may become a fearful pet’s first reaction to a threat. A dog or cat that immediately lunges in the face of a threat may appear offensive, but may actually be very fearful.
Sometimes, a dog or cat exhibits signs of fear to a stimulus that is not dangerous. They react out of proportion to the actual threat. An exaggerated fear response can compromise a pet’s physical and emotional health and is considered to be maladaptive.
Maladaptive fear can lead to hypervigilance and chronic stress. Pets that are excessively fearful may refrain from participating in social interactions or may exhibit unexpected aggressive responses.
A phobia is a persistent, exaggerated fear response that may be so extreme it is debilitating. Genetics and life experiences both contribute to the development of phobias. Common triggers for phobias include traveling in the car or loud noises such thunderstorms.
Anxiety is an emotion triggered by the anticipation of a fear-inducing stimulus. Anxiety may be situational (context-specific) and manifest only in specific contexts, such as being examined by a veterinarian or being left alone. Or anxiety may be generalized and manifest in many situations or in response to many triggers.
"Underlying anxiety can contribute to many behavioral signs and syndromes, such as nocturnal wakefulness, excessive vocalization, and house soiling."
Anxious pets and fearful pets exhibit the same physiological and behavioral signs; the difference is that anxious dogs and cats exhibit these signs even when the trigger is not yet present. Underlying anxiety can contribute to many behavioral signs and syndromes, such as nocturnal wakefulness, excessive vocalization, and house soiling.
If your dog or cat exhibits signs of behavioral illness, it is important to seek professional help to accurately identify the underlying emotional components.
There are many potential triggers for fear, anxiety, and phobia. Pets may be fearful of strangers, children, unfamiliar objects, or novel environments. Some dogs and cats become fearful or anxious when they visit the veterinary hospital or grooming parlor. Many dogs and cats exhibit signs of anxiety when they are left alone. Thunderstorms, fireworks, and chirping batteries are common triggers for phobic responses, especially in dogs.
Any unpleasant or fear-inducing experience can trigger a persistent fear.
If you notice that your dog or cat exhibits signs of fear, particularly if the fear is extreme or has started recently, it is important to consult with your veterinarian. A physical examination and laboratory testing will uncover underlying medical conditions that could cause or contribute to the fear.
Socializing young puppies and kittens may help prevent certain fears from developing. Socialization experiences should be provided gently so that they do not evoke fear.
"If you notice a high-level fear response or if your pet does not recover quickly, discontinue all exposures until you have a chance to consult with a professional."
Introduce your dog and cat to people and places. Expose them to many novel sounds - you may use downloaded recordings of thunder, fireworks, traffic, children, and noisy crowds. Pair stimuli with food and toys to create a positive association. If they appear frightened during a recording or in a live situation, it is important to remain calm yet cheerful. Remove the trigger and allow them to recover before restarting at a lower intensity. If you notice a high-level fear response or if your pet does not recover quickly, discontinue all exposures until you have a chance to consult with a professional.
Mild fear, particularly fear of a single trigger, can often be treated with behavior modification. Extreme fears, fear of multiple triggers, anxiety in multiple contexts, and phobias all require professional guidance. Dogs and cats that experience phobias often benefit from a combination of behavior modification and medication, as their reactions are out of proportion to the trigger.
To begin treatment: