Be Aware of these 5 Signs that Tell Your Dog has ever been Abused

Adopting a pet is an exciting activity yet it might also be an unpredictable occasion. The exciting part is you get a new member of the family and have a new companion. However, it turns out to be unpredictable because of the animal you adopt itself.

You never know the condition of the animal, whether it has been abused before. You’d better look at these pros and cons of adopting a shelter dog. You can consider these pros and cons before your decide to have a shelter dog home.

Dog is one of the most common adopted animals. Some people can simply adopt it while they find it on the street or just adopt it legally from a dog shelter. Your dog might show some unpredictable conditions due to several causes such as abuse.

There are some signs you can observe on your dog that tell your dog has been abused before. You can also check the signs of dog abuse that are considered as “warning” in the warning signs that your dog has been abused in the past.

As the new owner, you need to be aware of these signs as it will help you choose the best method to handle and take care of your dog. Before deciding to adopt a dog at home, there are some things to prepare before adopting a dog from dogs shelter.

Let’s check these 5 signs that tell your dog has been abused before.

• Physical Signs

You can see whether your dog is skinny or having some wounds when you adopted him. Skinny body might indicate malnutrition and some wounds indicate that he has ever been abused before.

Your adopted dog might also get neglected in his previous home, so that he didn’t get sufficient nutrients for his body.

You might also observe some other physical signs such as longer nails, unhealthy fur and even some body parts that he doesn’t like to be touched. All of these physical signs will surely tell you that he has experienced abuse before.

To have better assurance about your adopted dog’s condition, you may also bring him to the vet. The vet will have some examination that is able to tell you better about his condition.

• Clingy

If you observe your dog being clingy to your side all time, even when you need to go to the restroom, then it might indicate that he has unstable puppyhood before.

This can tell you that your adopted dog might get adopted for more than one time. Separation anxiety can be one of the causes of him being extra clingy. He feels that he doesn’t want to be separated again.

Besides being clingy, there are also some signs telling you that your adopted dog has separation anxiety, such as howling, whining, being destructive and also urinating as soon as you leave.

• Aggressive Towards Food

Normal dogs tend to eat their food in a normal pace, not too fast and not too slow. If your adopted dog is aggressive towards food by scarfing his food so quickly, then it might indicate that he didn’t have enough source of food before.

Your dog might also show some signs such as walking away from his bowl while eating, or growling and snapping at you or other dog come closer. This condition is likely to be a dangerous condition. You need to contact your vet or trainer immediately to overcome this condition.

• Fear or Aggression

Dogs that were abused before tend to show fear of everything and may also be aggressive as well. Unlike most dogs that have one or two fears, the dog that has ever been abused will be afraid of everything and unpredictably become aggressive.

The dogs might show some signs of aggression, such as showing their teeth, barking, growling or even biting. If these signs shown by your adopted dog, then contact your vet immediately as they might be dangerous.

There are tips for handling previously aggressive abused dogs and they hopefully will be helpful for you to handle your adopted dog.

Anxiety is also shown by a dog that has ever been abused. Anxiety is different with aggression. The dogs that experience anxiety might feel fearful and shy.

Some signs showing your dog is experiencing anxiety are drooling, panting, whining, pacing and digging. This condition also urges you to contact your vet immediately.

Trauma can also anxiety in dogs. You can check signs of dog with trauma.

• Being Submissive

It is normal for a dog to be submissive, but a dog that shows over submission can be one of the signs of being abused. An overly submissive dog will show some signs, such as rolling over with tucked tail while being approached, lying down or cowering while urinating.  

You are not suggested to scold your dog which is urinating submissively as it will just make the condition worse. You should consult with your trainer or vet to make your vet feel more comfortable at home.

As the owner of your adopted dog, you need to be really aware of your dog condition. You don’t know what exactly happened to him in the past, so doing observation is the only thing you can do.

Also, have a health check for your adopted dog to make sure that he is healthy. Furthermore, consult with a dog trainer or vet about the best method to handle some problems that your dog has. You can also do these ways to make your newly adopted dog feel comfortable.