Anxiety disorders are among the most common and most undertreated welfare problems in companion dogs, and modern pharmacological options combined with behavioural therapy offer significant welfare improvements.
Canine anxiety disorders cause chronic suffering in a substantial proportion of the pet dog population, yet remain undertreated in many cases — either because owners normalise anxious behaviour, cannot access behavioural support, or are reluctant to use medication. Modern anxiety treatment is not about sedation but about reducing the threshold for anxiety responses so that behaviour modification can be effective. Medication without behaviour modification treats symptoms without addressing the underlying conditioned fear responses; behaviour modification without medication may be ineffective when the anxiety level is too high for learning to occur. Veterinary behaviourists and clinical animal behaviourists work with both elements together. Owner recognition that anxiety is a welfare problem requiring professional intervention — not a training problem to be corrected with punishment — is the most important attitude shift needed.