Keep the Stress at Bay With the Best Dog Anxiety Jacket

The pet market is proliferating, and new products are being developed from time to time. A dog coat or anxiety jacket is an obvious purchase but it can be hard for you to sort out the right one, with the right size and snuggly fit from such a huge pile. We have listed the top five dog anxiety jackets above and this section will further help you zero in on your desired dog anxiety vest.

What Is Canine Anxiety?

Humans come across anxiety issues quite often, and we know of certain ways to relax. Similarly, when it comes to your canine friends, they also face anxiety issues which we sometimes are unaware of. Mostly the stressors of dogs are active due to loud noises, new places, crowded places, and going to the vet. They may also experience separation anxiety. For expressing their stress, an anxious dog can show the following symptoms:

• Shaking
• Hiding
• Growling
• Relieving themselves where they shouldn’t
• Running away
• Constant licking
• Biting
• Scratching and chewing

Many pet owners who are not aware of these symptoms tend to get distressed, and they immediately seek help from medical professionals. A vet may prescribe some medicines for your dog’s anxiety, but it can have side effects, plus it would be costly. Thus, dog anxiety vests are a more reliable option, and they are cost-effective as well.

This video from the Toronto Dog Whisperer outlines some of these common symptoms and shows viewers what to look out for in their dog:

How Does an Anxiety Jacket Work?

Have you ever seen parents put their infants alongside a pillow? The pillow makes the child feel like someone is beside him, and it develops a feeling of comfort. An anxiety jacket works on a similar principle to make the pup feel secure and safe. The jacket makes the pooch feel like they are constantly being hugged and held by their owner. It is an act of compression and a calming effect that provides a sensation of being comforted by someone. This is especially important for separation anxiety.

Important Things to Consider When Buying

Compression and fitting

The whole concept of anxiety jackets works on the principle of compression, so it won’t work if the jacket is too loose or too tight for the dog. If the jacket is too loose for the dog, it will not provide enough compression to give the feeling of a hug. Similarly, if the shirt is too tight, it will make your dog uncomfortable. In extreme circumstances, too tight anxiety vests can also block your dog’s blood circulation and can cause serious injuries and pain.

Thus, you must check the size measurements of the dog anxiety vest and tally it with the size of your dog before purchasing. Some brands also assist customers with a size chart that makes the process easy.

Material

When you buy new clothes for yourself, you always look for a soft material that is comfortable to wear. Similarly, when you plan to buy a jacket for your dog, make sure the material is breathable and comfortable. Furthermore, you would not want to load your dog with a heavy jacket that restricts their movements. This is true of other dog apparel as well.

Similarly, you also need to choose a material according to the prevailing weather conditions. Usually, cotton-based jackets are considered the best option because they are easy to maintain and clean. There is also an option of velcro closures that makes customizing sizes simple, and it protects the skin of the dog.

Washable

Dogs love to stay out in the open, so they may return to you with a dirty jacket. Thus, you will need an anxiety jacket that is easy to clean and machine washable to stay on time. It will be much easier to throw a shirt in the washer than spotting the stains and washing them by hand.