Keeping your pet well means being on the lookout for signs they might be uncomfortable or unhappy. And, like humans, animals can experience stress and anxiety.
If your pet isn't eating as much as usual, they may be stressed or they could have an underlying medical issue.
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Arndt explained that one common cause of mealtime anxiety is other household pets.
"When multiple pets in the home eat and drink near each other, cats can feel scared or anxious," said Arndt. "Simply moving the bowls to separate places can help a cat feel more relaxed and eat more."
"A stressed cat may flatten their ears and get into a crouching position. In this position, they will wrap their tail close to their body and may flick the end of their tail as a warning," said Farrell.
This compact position makes the cat's body a smaller target and allows them to spring into an attack more easily.
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Extremely agitated dogs may tuck their tails.
When dogs tuck their tails between their legs, they may need some space.
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In situations where a dog feels threatened or very stressed, they may tuck their tail between their legs.
"An agitated dog may tuck its tail and look to hide behind anything that can put distance between it and the threat. This is extreme body posturing and happens when a dog is feeling extremely stressed," Farrell told Insider.
Trained cats who begin to have accidents outside of the litter box may be experiencing stress.
When a cat isn't using their litter box, it could mean they're stressed out by their environment or are experiencing a health issue.
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"When a cat stops using the litter box or is inconsistent about using the litter box, it can be a sign that your cat is experiencing stress," Arndt told Insider.
You may also want to try increasing the number of litter boxes in your home or changing their location, since some cats may be uncomfortable sharing a litter box with another cat or using a box placed in a loud area.
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A stressed dog may have dilated pupils and flat ears.
Watching the facial features of a dog can give important clues about its state of mind.
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"When observing a dog for stress, it is important to watch the ears and eyes. If the eyes are dilated and the ears are flattened, the dog is giving the initial signs of minor stress," said Farrell.
If you notice these signs in your own dog, try and remove any potential stressors such as other pets, small children, or loud noises.
Talk to your vet if your dog seems unduly agitated by regular household activities or other animals.
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A dog who is trembling and pacing is highly distressed.
If your dog is trembling, they may want to escape their current situation.
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"Trembling and pacing are indicators of stress. It's a fight-or-flight behavior; The dog is looking for an escape route," said Farrell.
If your dog is trembling and pacing, it's important to immediately act to either remove the source of their anxiety or allow them to move away from whatever is causing them discomfort.
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If your normally social cat has begun hiding beneath furniture or blankets, they could be stressed out.
If your friendly cat is suddenly hiding, they might be stressed or scared.
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"Cats are evasive by nature and love to find places to curl up for long cat naps," said Arndt. "But if your cat is suddenly hiding, it can be a sign that your cat is experiencing stress."
Yawning could be a sign your dog is tired, but if they're well-rested they might be showing they are stressed.
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If your dog starts yawning when you know they are well-rested, it's likely they're feeling some amount of anxiety.
"Yawning is one of the most overlooked signs of stress in a dog. It's a displacement behavior, meaning your pet is conflicted as to what to do and are anxious," said Johnson.
Johnson added that another sign of stress that owners should watch out for is when a dog pants while yawning.
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If your dog is barking or whining more than usual, they could be stressed.
If your dog won't stop barking, they might be in distress.
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Travis Arndt, veterinarian and director of the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America, told Insider that a sudden increase in barking or whining can be a clue that your dog is feeling stressed.
Though barking and whining may be annoying to human family members, Arndt said that it's important to consult with a vet to rule out physical or emotional distress before attempting to train your dog to be quieter.
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Excessive shedding is one subtle sign of stress in dogs.
If your pet is shedding excessively, they may have a health issue or be stressed.
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"Stress can cause dogs to develop flaky skin and can lead to sudden fur shedding. If the stressful situation was a one-time thing, the shedding of the fur would last for roughly three to four days," said Farrell.
Combing your pet can help manage the shedding, though if your dog is experiencing chronic stress, the excessive shedding may continue. Always consult with your vet about any changes in your pet's fur or skin.
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Cats and dogs sometimes lick their lips and noses when they're upset.
If your cat is licking their nose and lips, they might be nervous.
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Although pets often use their tongues to moisten their noses or explore the world around them, Johnson explained that excessive nose or lip licking can be a sign of distress.
"Pets will lick their nose or their lips when they are stressed, nervous, or anxious. Both cats and dogs do these behaviors normally, so stress-licking can be easily overlooked or misinterpreted," said Johnson.
If your pet has enough water to drink and doesn't have any irritation around its nose or mouth, excessive licking could be linked to stress. Check in with your vet to help pinpoint the cause.
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Pets may show a "whale eye" when they're nervous.
If your pet is giving you a lot of side-eye, they might need some space.
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Ever have a pet look at you sideways with only one eye? Known as a "whale eye" or side-eye, this expression is often a sign of discomfort.
"Their eyes get dilated and you can only see a sliver of the white of their eye as they look at you from the side. Whale eye is an indication that they are stressed or anxious," Johnson told Insider.
If you notice your pet making this expression, Johnson advised that it's a good idea to give them some space and remove any potential stressors from the environment, such as other pets or loud children.
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Stressed pets may groom themselves excessively.
When a pet cleans themselves too much, they might experience skin irritation and fur loss.
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Karie Anne Johnson, veterinarian and co-owner of VIP Vet Visit, told Insider that both dogs and cats will sometimes over-groom for due to stress or anxiety.
"Over-grooming is what's known as a displacement behavior — they don't know what else to do to deal with stress, so they groom to calm themselves down," said Johnson.
Over-grooming can cause skin infections due to irritation. After consulting with a vet to rule out any medical problems, you may consider buying a licking mat that will help redirect some of your pet's urge to groom themselves.
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