Why is my dog acting stressed but still wants to be near me?

That’s hard to say, if only Baby Girl could talk! Those are all signs of anxiety but licking the lips and hiding can also indicate an upset stomach. Monitor her eating very closely and watch for any changes. Also watch her for any vomiting, diarrhea or changes in her water intake. If you see anything that appears to be illness, make sure to have her seen by her veterinarian. There are also medications that she can take to help with anxiety and it may be worthwhile to call her doctor. Anxious dogs often respond well to exercise and I recommend a 30 minute vigorous play session every day or a long walk. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

If she’s eating/drinking, pooping normally and does not seem to be limping or painful when touched around her legs or belly….it is most likely stress. Possibly there was a super loud noise/siren/crash etc. that scared her. Vetriscience composure chews (available without a prescription on Chewy.com) can help with stress, including separation anxiety stress/firework stress, etc. Hope she feels better soon!

Hello, and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Your description sounds most suspicious of generalized anxiety. There may have been something that spooked your dog recently to cause the behavior change, making him want to be near you all the time and causing him to seek reassurance. However, given his breed, it's also possible that he's just got too much pent-up energy - many high energy breeds can develop either anxiety or boredom if they aren't given an outlet for their energy and a way to tire themselves out. I recommend making sure your dog has a way to RUN his energy off daily. (with his breed and age, a walk probably won't cut it). You can take him running, or if he's ball motivated, throwing a ball is a great option to get him running. Fenced in dog parks are good options too. If tiring him out doesn't help reduce his clingy behaviors, I recommend consulting your vet and having them do a physical exam and likely some screening bloodwork. Sometimes panting, whining, and being generally clingy are the dog's way of telling us that something's not right, which can be the first sign of a disease or health problem. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. It sounds like Teddybear could have moderate separation anxiety (that’s the not letting you out of his sight). The appetite changes can also be due to something like chronic pancreatitis or acid reflux/stomach ulcer. I have also seen clingy behavior and changes to appetite with pain (hurt back/neck especially). Long story short, take Teddybear in for a good checkup with your vet. If there is nothing weird on exam or routine bloodwork, you can chat about anxiety medications that can help. Best of luck to you and Teddybear!

It could from the stress of you being gone, but it could also be that Bear is sick. Monitor him tonight, and if he is still acting this way in the morning, I would have him seen by a vet for a health check. I hope this helps!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Bear. I recommend that she sees a veterinarian today. She may be painful somewhere, experiencing gastrointestinal distress or could have another internal problem such as kidney disease. Based on her exam findings, her veterinarian may recommend medication or laboratory work and x-rays if the cause of her symptoms is not readily identifiable. It is worrisome that she just wants to lay in the dirt. I hope this information helps!

Hi there. Yes, stress could be the cause of Bear's eating behavior. I would try feeding him away from the other dog, somewhere where he doesn't feel challenged because this could be an issue. You can also try high calorie food like Royal Canin GI high energy to help make sure he's getting plenty of calories. There is also the canine phermone collar called DAP which can help settle their nerves and this may be worth a try. I hope that helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.