While pets of any age can experience fear, anxiety, and stress, senior pets can suddenly become affected by nervous emotions. Anxiety is a common sign of cognitive dysfunction and can manifest in various ways. If your furry companion displays the following signs, they may have developed cognitive decline-induced anxiety:

* Vocalization, especially whining or whimpering

* New fears about once-familiar objects, places, or people

* Becoming more clingy and owner-dependent

* Excessive panting

* Inability to settle and relax

* Pacing

As your pet experiences mental and physical changes while aging, they become confused and scared about what is happening, which can manifest as anxiety. Fortunately, many methods can help ease your pet’s worries at home, and you can also rely on your family veterinarian for serious anxiety issues. If you’ve noticed your furry friend becoming nervous, try the following anxiety-reducing tactics. Remember that the best behavior management protocol often combines several treatment modalities, so one method may not work alone but work well when paired with another.

#1: Treats and supplements help naturally soothe anxiety in pets

You love spoiling your senior pet, so make their treats perform double duty and soothe their anxiety. Like other health-boosting treats, like hip and joint, skin and coat, and brain health treats, anxiety-reducing treats are packed with calming natural ingredients. Consider a daily supplement if you’re concerned about giving your pet too many calorie-laden treats. Look for supplements that contain one or more of the following ingredients:

* L-theanine

* Chamomile

* Valerian

* Tryptophan

* Melatonin

* Colostrum

* Alpha-casozepine

* Thiamine

Before starting your pet on a calming supplement or treat, check with your veterinarian to ensure there are no contraindications or negative interactions between supplements and medications your pet takes. 

#2: Compression wraps swaddle your stressed pet in comfort

As you swaddle a squalling newborn to soothe them, a compression wrap can do the same for your pet. One of the most common brands is a Thundershirt, which applies pressure to specific calming acupressure points on your pet’s body, promoting a calm, relaxed attitude. 

#3: Calming music reduces your pet’s anxiety

If you search for calming music for pets, an assortment of YouTube playlists pop up, but a clinically proven option has been shown to help reduce your pet’s anxiety. Designed for cats or dogs, iCalm music uses psychoacoustic techniques that naturally trigger relaxation or stimulated responses, so monitor your pet’s response to the soundtrack. If the music does not have the desired effect, switch to a faster or slower tempo.

#4: Pheromone therapy is a natural anxiety-reducing method for pets

Pets rely largely on their olfactory sense to communicate, particularly through pheromones. While you can use calming sprays and diffusers that contain lavender, chamomile, and geranium, pheromone therapy can be more effective. For cats, Feliway has an extensive product line designed to meet any of your cat’s needs. The pheromone in Feliway Classic is known as a “happy message,” providing cats comfort and security. Dogs find the pheromone found in Adaptil provides comfort and happiness. This pheromone is a “comforting message” that mimics the pheromone released by mother dogs to communicate with her puppies. Pheromone therapy in your home in the form of a spray, diffuser, or collar has an added benefit in that pheromones are species-specific. For example, suppose your senior dog displays signs of distress and unease. In that case, you can plug in an Adaptil diffuser, and neither your cat—nor you—will be affected by this canine-specific soothing pheromone.

An anxious pet can be difficult to watch, especially as their cognitive function declines. Implement a calming solution at the first hint of unease in your senior pet. If natural options are no longer effective, consult your veterinarian about pharmaceutical alternatives.