Anxiety disorders are among the most common behavioral health problems in companion animals — affecting welfare significantly and often going unrecognized or undertreated.
Anxiety disorders in companion animals cause genuine suffering that is often invisible to owners because it is internalized rather than behaviorally obvious. A cat hiding under the bed all day, a dog overgrooming until bald patches appear, a cat spraying throughout the house — these are welfare problems reflecting genuine psychological distress, not behavioral problems reflecting character defects. The welfare implications are significant: animals living with chronic anxiety experience ongoing suffering that affects every aspect of their lives. Effective treatment is available but requires accurate diagnosis, appropriate medication when indicated, and behavioral modification programs that systematically address anxiety triggers rather than merely managing symptoms.