Vets offer help for anxious pets 

Don't let that wagging tail fool you, pets feel anxiety just like humans.

And a veterinary conference has been told there's things owners can and should do to help.

"Pets feel anxiety in similar ways as we do. It's a normal emotion that prepares you for a negative experience," Jacqui Ley told the Australian Veterinary Association conference in Adelaide on Tuesday.

"Anxiety is what makes us alert in a dark alley or careful on the edge of a cliff.

"So it makes sense that to reverse these sensations of anxiety, we need to counter it with relaxation techniques to reduce the heart rate, relax muscles and calm brain activity," she said.

During prolonged periods of relaxation, the brain secretes protective mood-altering neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, a powerful hormone associated with feelings of happiness, contentment and relaxation.

The treatment of anxiety disorders involves calming the overactive pathways in the brain while teaching better coping strategies to help the sufferer return to a calmer state," Dr Ley said.

TIPS FOR HELPING ANXIOUS PETS RELAX:

* Sit-stay-look exercise. Unlike obedience, the focus is not on the tasks of sitting, staying and looking but rather on seeing a relaxation response.

* Rewarding relaxed behaviour: Whispering good boy every time the pet is relaxing is a simple and effective technique and easy for owners to incorporate into their busy schedules.

* Massage: Long, firm, slow strokes can be a way of relaxing pets and can be done while owners watch TV or listen to some music.