A Labrador sitting on a sofa licking its lips with ears slightly back, a subtle sign of stress

Dog Anxiety Symptoms: Body Language, Behaviour and When to Worry

October 26, 2026

Quick answer

Common dog anxiety symptoms are panting when not hot, pacing, trembling, lip licking, yawning, a tucked tail, ears pinned back, showing the whites of the eyes, hiding, excessive barking, destructive chewing, house soiling and stress diarrhoea. Sudden or new anxiety can be caused by pain, so a vet check comes first.

Key takeaways

Anxiety shows in the body first: lip licking, yawning, a lowered posture, raised hackles and panting are early signs; hiding, escape attempts and aggression come later.
It is common: in a survey of 13,700 Finnish pet dogs, noise sensitivity alone affected 32%.
Pain can look like anxiety: a review of behaviour-clinic caseloads found around a third of referred dog cases involved a painful condition, and in some caseloads nearly 80%.
The gut reacts too: stress colitis is one of the leading causes of large-bowel diarrhoea in dogs.
See a vet if anxiety starts suddenly, appears in an older dog, comes with limping, stiffness or gut signs, or includes self-injury or aggression.

What are the symptoms of anxiety in dogs?

Dog anxiety symptoms fall into three groups: body language (posture, ears, eyes, mouth, tail), behaviour (pacing, hiding, barking, chewing, house soiling) and body functions (panting, a racing heart, drooling, diarrhoea). The Merck Veterinary Manual lists fast heart rate, fast breathing, excessive salivation and gut upset as physical signs, and low body posture, raised hackles, vocalising, yawning and lip licking as behavioural ones (Merck Veterinary Manual).

Fear is a response to something happening now, such as a firework. Anxiety is the anticipation of something that might happen, such as you picking up your keys. Merck describes generalised anxiety as persistent anticipatory fear, difficulty settling and hypervigilance. In practice, owners see a mix of both.

A body-language checklist of dog anxiety symptoms grouped by body part: eyes showing the whites or with dilated pupils; ears pinned back; mouth with lip licking, yawning or panting; body low, trembling or with raised hackles; tail tucked; and behaviours such as pacing, hiding, barking, chewing and house soiling.

Dog anxiety symptoms checklist

Where to look	Signs of stress or anxiety	Easy to mistake for
Eyes	Whites of the eyes showing ("whale eye"), dilated pupils, avoiding eye contact, staring fixedly at a trigger	Tiredness
Ears	Pinned back or flattened, or rotating constantly to track sounds	Submission or politeness
Mouth	Lip licking with no food around, yawning when not tired, panting when not hot, drooling, mouth tightly closed	Thirst, boredom, heat
Body	Lowered or crouched posture, trembling, raised hackles, weight shifted back, freezing, shaking off as if wet	Feeling cold
Tail	Tucked under, held low, or a stiff, fast wag held high	Happiness (a wag is not always friendly)
Behaviour	Pacing, restlessness, hiding, clinging to you, excessive barking or whining, destructive chewing, digging at doors, escape attempts, house soiling, refusing food	"Naughtiness" or poor training
Self-directed	Excessive licking or chewing of paws or flanks, tail chasing	Allergies (which may also be present)

No single sign proves anxiety. A yawn after a long walk is just a yawn. Look for clusters of signs and for context: the same signs appearing every time the same thing happens is the strongest clue.

Early warning signs vs severe anxiety

Anxious dogs usually escalate. The earliest signs are subtle and easy to miss: a lick of the lips, a turned head, a yawn. If the trigger continues, the dog moves to avoidance (walking away, hiding), then to more obvious distress (trembling, panting, pacing), and finally to panic or defensive aggression. Spotting the early signs lets you remove your dog from the situation before it escalates.

Subtle: lip licking, yawning, blinking, turning the head away, a paw lift, sniffing the ground.
Avoidance: walking away, hiding behind you, ears back, tail low.
Distress: trembling, panting, pacing, whining, drooling, refusing treats.
Panic or defence: frantic escape attempts, freezing, growling, snapping or biting.

A growl is information, not disobedience. Punishing it can teach a dog to skip the warning and go straight to a bite.

Can anxiety cause diarrhoea in dogs?

Yes. Stress is a recognised cause of colitis, inflammation of the large bowel, and VCA Animal Hospitals describes stress colitis as one of the leading causes of large-bowel diarrhoea in dogs (VCA). Typical signs are frequent, small, urgent stools, often with mucus and sometimes a little fresh blood, after a stressful event such as boarding, travel, a house move or fireworks.

Mild stress diarrhoea in an otherwise bright dog often settles within a day or two. Call your vet if it lasts more than 48 hours, contains more than a streak of blood, or comes with vomiting, lethargy or a puppy. Our guide to dog diarrhoea covers home care and red flags, and the dog gut health guide explains the gut-brain link.

Is it anxiety or pain?

Pain is one of the most overlooked causes of anxious or "difficult" behaviour in dogs. In a 2020 paper, Mills and colleagues reviewed 100 recent dog cases from several behaviour-clinic caseloads and estimated, conservatively, that around a third of referred cases involved a painful condition, and in some caseloads nearly 80% (Mills et al., 2020). Hips and knees were among the most common sources, but painful gut and skin conditions mattered too.

Noise fear is a good example. In a study of 20 noise-sensitive dogs seen at the University of Lincoln, dogs whose noise sensitivity was linked to musculoskeletal pain developed it nearly four years later in life, on average, than dogs without pain, and were more likely to generalise their fear to places and avoid other dogs. Once the pain was identified and treated, they responded well (Lopes Fagundes et al., 2018).

A comparison card titled anxiety or pain: around a third of referred behaviour cases in dogs involved a painful condition, and nearly 80% in some caseloads; signs that point towards pain include anxiety starting later in life, stiffness or limping, reluctance to jump or use stairs, sensitivity to being touched or groomed, and fear that spreads to new places.

Suspect pain if your dog's anxiety:

Started suddenly, or later in life, with no obvious new trigger
Comes with stiffness, limping, reluctance to jump, climb stairs or get up
Shows up when your dog is touched, lifted, brushed or approached while resting
Is spreading to more places, people or dogs over time
Comes with licking at one spot, a hunched posture or tummy trouble

Merck notes that physical problems causing discomfort or pain should be ruled out in fearful dogs, because pain can lower a dog's threshold for fear and aggression. If your vet suspects pain, a trial of pain relief can itself be a diagnostic test. For older dogs, our senior dog guide covers joint and brain ageing.

What causes anxiety in dogs?

Anxiety usually comes from a mix of genes, early life and experience. In the Finnish survey of 13,700 dogs, noise sensitivity was the most common anxiety-related trait at 32%, fearfulness was also common, and breeds differed widely, pointing to a strong genetic contribution (Salonen et al., 2020).

Noise: fireworks, thunder, construction. See our fireworks anxiety guide.
Being left alone: see separation anxiety in dogs.
Too little socialisation as a puppy, or a frightening experience.
Change: a house move, a new baby or pet, a new routine, travel.
Medical causes: pain, gut discomfort, itchy skin, and cognitive decline in older dogs.

When should you see a vet about dog anxiety?

Book a vet visit if your dog:

Becomes anxious suddenly, or for the first time as an adult or senior
Shows anxiety with limping, stiffness, sensitivity to touch, or gut signs
Injures themselves trying to escape, or licks or chews until the skin breaks
Growls, snaps or bites, or the anxiety is getting worse
Has diarrhoea for more than 48 hours, or with blood, vomiting or lethargy
Seems confused, disoriented or restless at night as an older dog

A see-the-vet card for dog anxiety: sudden or new anxiety in an adult or senior dog; anxiety with limping, stiffness or touch sensitivity; self-injury during escape attempts or licking; growling, snapping or biting; diarrhoea lasting more than 48 hours or with blood; and night-time confusion in older dogs.

Severe anxiety is a medical condition, and prescription medication alongside behaviour work can transform a dog's life. A vet can also refer you to a veterinary behaviourist.

What helps an anxious dog?

Most anxious dogs improve with a combination of predictable routine, enough exercise and enrichment, a safe retreat space, gradual desensitisation to triggers, and, where needed, medication or supplements. Start with the plan, then add support.

Behaviour and environment first: our natural treatments for dog anxiety guide ranks the options by evidence.
Supplements: compare the evidence in our best natural calming supplements and calming treats guides, or read about ashwagandha and L-theanine.
Realistic timelines: see how long it takes to calm an anxious dog.

AyurPet's take

We make calming products, and the first thing we would ask about any anxious dog is: has a vet checked for pain? The Mills review changed how we think about this. If a third or more of dogs seen for behaviour problems may be hurting, then reaching straight for a calming supplement risks masking the real problem.

Once pain and illness are ruled out, we see a daily calming supplement as one part of a plan for a dog with everyday, low-level anxiety: the dog who paces when you get ready to leave or startles at every noise. That is where ashwagandha, the centre of CoolCalm+, has its best evidence.

When we would tell you not to use a supplement: if your dog panics, injures themselves, shows aggression, or is getting worse. That dog needs a vet and possibly prescription medication, and that is nothing to feel guilty about.

CoolCalm+

For dogs with everyday, low-level anxiety, once your vet has ruled out pain: ashwagandha, L-theanine and Ayurvedic herbs such as Brahmi and Jatamansi, non-drowsy. Best alongside routine and training. Follow the dosage on the pack.

See CoolCalm+

AyurPet Calming Ashwagandha Himalayan yak cheese chew for dogs

Calming Ashwagandha Yak Cheese Chew

Chewing is a natural way for dogs to settle. A long-lasting, rawhide-free chew with ashwagandha: up to 6 hours of chewing, 87% protein, 100% vegetarian. Sized Small (up to 10 kg), Medium (10 to 25 kg) and Large (over 25 kg). Always supervise chewing.

See the Ashwagandha Yak Chew

Frequently asked questions

What are the first signs of anxiety in a dog?

Early signs are subtle: lip licking without food, yawning when not tired, turning the head away, a lifted paw, ears drawn back and a lowered tail. Panting, pacing and trembling usually come later as stress builds.

How do I know if my dog has anxiety or is just excited?

Context and body language tell you. An excited dog has a loose, wiggly body and soft eyes. An anxious dog is tense or low, with ears back, a tucked or stiff tail, wide eyes and panting that does not match the temperature or activity.

Can anxiety make a dog sick?

It can. Stress is a recognised cause of colitis and large-bowel diarrhoea in dogs, and anxious dogs may vomit, drool or refuse food. Persistent or bloody diarrhoea, vomiting or lethargy need a vet.

Why has my dog suddenly become anxious?

A new trigger such as a move or fireworks can cause it, but sudden anxiety is also a classic sign of pain or illness. In behaviour-clinic caseloads, around a third of referred dogs had a painful condition. See your vet first.

Do dogs grow out of anxiety?

Rarely on their own. Anxiety tends to persist or worsen without help, especially noise fear. With a plan combining behaviour work, environment changes and, where needed, medication or supplements, most dogs improve.

Is panting a sign of anxiety in dogs?

It can be. Panting when your dog is not hot, thirsty or just exercised, especially with pacing, drooling or wide eyes, is a common stress sign. Panting can also signal pain, heatstroke or illness, so look at the whole picture.

What breeds are most prone to anxiety?

Breeds differ a lot. A Finnish survey of 13,700 dogs found large breed differences in noise sensitivity, fear and separation-related behaviour, suggesting a strong genetic component. Any individual dog of any breed can be anxious.

How we researched this: Written by the AyurPet research team from 5 sources listed below, including a review of pain in behaviour-clinic caseloads, a survey of 13,700 dogs, and veterinary manual and hospital guidance. Last reviewed October 2026.

References

Behavioral Problems of Dogs. Merck Veterinary Manual. merckvetmanual.com
Mills DS, Demontigny-Bédard I, Gruen M, et al. Pain and problem behavior in cats and dogs. Animals 10(2):318, 2020. PMC7071134
Lopes Fagundes AL, Hewison L, McPeake KJ, Zulch H, Mills DS. Noise sensitivities in dogs: an exploration of signs in dogs with and without musculoskeletal pain using qualitative content analysis. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 5:17, 2018. PMC5816950
Salonen M, Sulkama S, Mikkola S, et al. Prevalence, comorbidity, and breed differences in canine anxiety in 13,700 Finnish pet dogs. Scientific Reports 10:2962, 2020. PMC7058607
Colitis in Dogs. VCA Animal Hospitals. vcahospitals.com

Every dog is different. If your dog's anxiety is new, severe or getting worse, see your vet before trying any supplement. If you would like a second opinion, our online vet consultation can help.

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