ArcaMax

Dear Cathy,

Our five-year-old dog barks at everything and even things my husband and I can’t hear, which makes me think it’s anxiety. Lately, he will start to bark, then it goes higher in pitch, and then ends with high pitch loud howling. At first, we were scolding him by yelling at him and then decided to ignore it and he eventually would stop.

Could it be a full-blown panic attack and how should we handle it? He was on anxiety medication for about three months. It didn’t help. Do you think it’s anxiety or something else? How do we train him, so he doesn’t bark so much? He gets walked every other day.

— Mom in Montana

Dear Montana Mom,

Dogs experience the world very differently than we do, and hearing is a big part of that. Dogs can hear sounds at much higher frequencies and from much farther away than humans can, so it’s very possible your dog is reacting to noises you and your husband simply don’t hear. In many cases, barking is a dog’s way of alerting their people to something they hear – it’s part instinct, part communication, even when it feels excessive to us.

The change in pitch you’re describing, ending in a howl, doesn’t automatically mean a full-blown panic attack. It can be a sign of heightened arousal or anxiety, but it can also reflect frustration or sensitivity to an environmental sound. The fact that yelling escalated the behavior makes sense – raised voices often add fuel to an already overstimulated dog, while ignoring it allows him to eventually settle.

Since prescription anxiety medication didn’t help (and there are no health problems), you might consider some lower-key calming supports, like anxiety wraps (available online and in pet stores), canine pheromone collars or diffusers, and over-the-counter calming chews to help take the edge off.

Next, introduce training. Redirection works better than correction. When he starts barking, calmly call him to you, ask for a simple cue like “sit,” and reward him. Follow that with a puzzle toy or food-dispensing toy to redirect his attention. This helps interrupt the barking and gives him something more productive to focus on. You may also want to increase walks to a daily routine, as regular exercise can help reduce overall anxiety.

With consistent exercise and more enrichment, you can help your dog manage his big feelings – and voice – more effectively.

Dear Cathy,

My daughter adopted a declawed cat about three years ago. She is about five years old. About a year ago, she stopped using the two litter boxes in the basement. My daughter changed the litter and location of the boxes to no avail. The cat now urinates all over the house and on the furniture. Veterinarian visits have not helped. She doesn't want to give the problem to someone else. Is euthanasia the only answer?

— Robert, Baldwin, New York

Dear Robert,

I’m glad you are asking this question before your daughter makes any irreversible decisions. No, euthanasia is not the answer. Inappropriate urination is one of the most common reasons cats are surrendered or euthanized, but it’s almost always a sign that something is wrong rather than a behavior problem – and there are things you can do.

Even if your daughter has already changed litter types and box locations, there are still other avenues to explore. These include using very soft, sand-like litter; adding low-entry boxes; increasing the number of boxes in quiet, easily accessible areas; and sprinkling a litter box attractant in the litter to help draw her back to the box. Over-the-counter calming chews may help some cats, and placing feline pheromone diffusers near the boxes can help create a calmer environment.

Other helpful steps can include reducing household stressors, keeping a predictable routine, limiting access to favored soiling areas, and providing more vertical space, so the cat feels secure. In some cases, temporarily confining the cat to a smaller, quiet area with multiple box options can help re-establish good litter habits before gradually expanding her space again.

In declawed cats especially, litter box issues are sadly common. Declawing can lead to chronic pain in the feet and joints, even years later, making litter uncomfortable or painful to stand on. For that reason, it’s important to talk with a veterinarian about both anxiety and pain management.

If these efforts don’t lead to improvement, a veterinarian experienced in feline behavior can observe the cat at home, identify hidden triggers, and tailor a plan specific to her needs. With the right combination of medical support, environmental changes, and patience, many cats with long-standing litter box problems do improve.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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