Fear & Anxiety
General fearfulness and anxiety, from specific fears such as the vet, strangers, handling or new places, to a broadly anxious temperament. Signs include hiding, trembling, cowering, freezing, avoidance, clinginess or sudden defensiveness. Managed with a safe and predictable routine, gradual desensitisation and counter-conditioning, calming support and sometimes medication.
1
Pets tracked
4
Expert guides
0
Members
Expert guides
Socialisation done right: the puppy and kitten window, and what to do if you missed it
Early in life there is a stretch of a few weeks when a puppy or a kitten decides, more or less for keeps, whether the world is a safe place. Get a little gentle, varied experience into them during it, and you tend to...
The fearful pet: helping an anxious dog or cat feel safe
Some pets meet the world braced for the worst. There's the dog that flinches at the doorbell, paces when the light fades, and will not settle until everyone is home. There's the cat that lives behind the sofa and only...
Fear of the vet and the groomer: cooperative care and Fear Free handling
The carrier comes out and the cat is gone under the bed. The lead goes on for a trip to the groomer and the dog plants all four feet at the door. By the time you reach the waiting room your pet is panting, trembling,...
Desensitisation and counter-conditioning: the two techniques behind every fear plan
A dog that comes apart at fireworks, a cat that flattens itself at the sight of the carrier, a dog that explodes at other dogs on the lead: three very different problems, and underneath, the same two techniques doing...
Connect with others managing Fear & Anxiety
- 🐾
Find pets with the same condition and similar treatments
- 📊
Track symptoms, medications, and health trends over time
- 💬
Share experiences and learn from other pet owners
- 🩺
Get expert veterinary insights on community posts
A community that gets it
Part of the Behaviour & Anxiety community
Fear & Anxiety is supported in our Behaviour & Anxiety space, a broader, livelier community for related conditions, so you are never posting into an empty room.
Visit the communityFind real-world care
When you're ready to take the next step in person, the PetCare Atlas lists clinical behaviourists across the UK. Search by your postcode to find someone near you.
Find a vet or specialist near youFree includes 1 pet, up to 2 condition spaces, daily tracking, and your top 2 matches