Stressed dog may lose appetite, but medical issues can be a cause too. Vet check important to rule out conditions before blaming stress.
Dogs may hide signs of stress/anxiety, like pinning ears back, especially in floppy-eared breeds.
Subtle signs of stress/anxiety in dogs: nose/lip licking, yawning, drooling. Context matters. Relaxed dog drooling for treat is okay.
Stressed/anxious dogs cower, crouch with tail tucked, become rigid, or avoid looking at perceived threats.
Dogs pant when excited, hot, out of breath after exercise, or stressed. Stress-related panting accompanies other signs of anxiety.
Fear/anxiety make dogs tremble. Pain/illness also cause shaking. Vet check needed if symptoms persist after calming down/leaving stress.
Dogs vocalize more under stress. Rule out medical causes before assuming stress as the reason for increased whining, howling, and barking.
Stressful situations trigger diarrhea in dogs due to norepinephrine release. It usually resolves with a bland diet, but severe or persistent cases need vet attention.