Stress and anxiety are increasingly recognised as important factors affecting the health and wellbeing of dogs and cats. Just like people, pets can experience emotional stress from changes in routine, separation from owners, ageing, loud noises, travel, vet visits, social tension, or busy home environments.
While occasional stress is normal, ongoing anxiety can affect behaviour, sleep, digestion, immune health, and overall quality of life. Recognising the signs early and taking a holistic approach may help pets feel calmer, happier, and more emotionally balanced.
Signs Your Pet May Be Feeling Anxious
Anxiety can present in many different ways.
In dogs, signs may include:
Restlessness or pacing
Panting or trembling
Excessive barking or whining
Yawning a lot
Clinginess or inability to settle
Destructive behaviour when left alone
Digestive upset or reduced appetite
Difficulty sleeping
Cats often show stress more subtly, including:
Hiding or withdrawing
Overgrooming
Increased vocalisation
Irritability or sensitivity
Changes in litter tray habits
Reduced appetite or sleep disturbances
Sometimes behavioural changes are gradual and may simply appear as a pet becoming “different” or less relaxed than usual.
A Holistic Approach to Calming Support
Supporting anxious pets often works best when multiple areas of health and lifestyle are addressed together.
Create a Safe Environment Provide a quiet, comfortable resting area where your pet feels secure. During storms or fireworks, close curtains, reduce noise, and offer familiar bedding or toys.
Maintain Routine Pets thrive on predictability. Consistent feeding, walking, play, and sleep times can help reduce anxiety.
Gentle Exercise and Enrichment Daily walks, sniffing activities, puzzle feeders, and interactive play can help reduce stress hormones and support mental wellbeing.
Stay Calm Yourself Animals are very sensitive to human emotions. Calm handling and reassurance are often more helpful than excessive fussing during stressful events.
Consider Natural Support Nutritional and herbal supplements may help support calm behaviour in anxious pets. Products such as Anxiety Care contain ingredients traditionally used to support relaxation, emotional balance, and nervous system health.
BRN Anxiety Care is designed as part of a holistic approach to supporting calm behaviour, emotional balance, and healthy mood in dogs and cats. The aim is to nutritionally support the nervous and hormone system and help animals better cope with everyday stressors.
Ingredients commonly used in calming formulations may include:
L-tryptophan to support serotonin pathways and healthy mood
L-theanine to encourage relaxation without drowsiness
Valerian and Withania (Ashwagandha) to support stress resilience
Magnesium and B vitamins for nervous system support
These ingredients may help pets remain calmer during stressful situations such as storms, fireworks, travel, separation, changes in the household, grooming visits, or ageing-related behavioural changes.
They can also help reset the stress response , improving resilience and calmness. Many owners find calming support products are most effective when used consistently alongside behavioural and environmental management strategies.
The Importance of Veterinary Guidance
It is important to remember that anxiety-like behaviours can sometimes be linked to underlying medical issues including pain, cognitive decline, hormonal changes, digestive problems, or illness
if your pet develops sudden behavioural changes, excessive anxiety, aggression, vocalisation, sleep disturbances, or changes in appetite or toileting habits, a veterinary consultation is recommended.
Your veterinarian can help assess your pet’s overall health and determine whether behavioural support, environmental strategies, training, or additional therapies may be appropriate. Anxiety Care can hep in the meantime.
With patience, understanding, and the right support, many pets can experience improved emotional wellbeing and a calmer, more relaxed quality of life.
Supporting Calm and Emotional Wellbeing in Dogs and Cats
Stress and anxiety are increasingly recognised as important factors affecting the health and wellbeing of dogs and cats. Just like people, pets can experience emotional stress from changes in routine, separation from owners, ageing, loud noises, travel, vet visits, social tension, or busy home environments.
While occasional stress is normal, ongoing anxiety can affect behaviour, sleep, digestion, immune health, and overall quality of life. Recognising the signs early and taking a holistic approach may help pets feel calmer, happier, and more emotionally balanced.
Signs Your Pet May Be Feeling Anxious
Anxiety can present in many different ways.
In dogs, signs may include:
Cats often show stress more subtly, including:
Sometimes behavioural changes are gradual and may simply appear as a pet becoming “different” or less relaxed than usual.
A Holistic Approach to Calming Support
Supporting anxious pets often works best when multiple areas of health and lifestyle are addressed together.
How BRN Anxiety Care May Help
BRN Anxiety Care is designed as part of a holistic approach to supporting calm behaviour, emotional balance, and healthy mood in dogs and cats. The aim is to nutritionally support the nervous and hormone system and help animals better cope with everyday stressors.
Ingredients commonly used in calming formulations may include:
These ingredients may help pets remain calmer during stressful situations such as storms, fireworks, travel, separation, changes in the household, grooming visits, or ageing-related behavioural changes.
They can also help reset the stress response , improving resilience and calmness. Many owners find calming support products are most effective when used consistently alongside behavioural and environmental management strategies.
The Importance of Veterinary Guidance
It is important to remember that anxiety-like behaviours can sometimes be linked to underlying medical issues including pain, cognitive decline, hormonal changes, digestive problems, or illness
if your pet develops sudden behavioural changes, excessive anxiety, aggression, vocalisation, sleep disturbances, or changes in appetite or toileting habits, a veterinary consultation is recommended.
Your veterinarian can help assess your pet’s overall health and determine whether behavioural support, environmental strategies, training, or additional therapies may be appropriate. Anxiety Care can hep in the meantime.
With patience, understanding, and the right support, many pets can experience improved emotional wellbeing and a calmer, more relaxed quality of life.