Calming Canines: How Nutrition & Routine Reduce Anxiety

Reducing Anxiety in Dogs: Supporting Calm, Confident Pets

Anxiety in dogs is more common than many pet parents realise and can show up in subtle ways - from pacing and restlessness to gut upsets and avoidance. Just like humans, dogs respond to stressors in their environment, and chronic anxiety can affect both behaviour and overall health. At Raw Essentials, we believe in helping every dog feel safe, secure, and supported through wildly good advice, empathy, and evidence‑based nutrition.

Understanding Anxiety in Dogs

Anxiety affects many aspects of a dog’s life including digestion, behaviour, and social interactions. One important biological system involved is the gut‑brain axis, a bidirectional communication network between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. Scientific evidence shows that gut microbes help shape mood, stress responses, and behaviour in animals through nervous, endocrine, and immune pathways. Nutritional interventions that influence gut microbiota can therefore have measurable effects on behaviour and emotional regulation in dogs. Purina Institute+1

Signs of anxiety can include:

• Restlessness, pacing, yawning, excessive blinking

• Avoidance, hiding, stiff body posture

• Changes in appetite or digestion

• Reactivity such as barking, snapping, or inappropriate elimination

Common triggers include loud noises (fireworks, thunderstorms), changes in routine or environment, unfamiliar people or animals, and even subtle sensory changes.

How Nutrition Supports Anxiety Management

Emerging research suggests that nutrition plays a foundational role in supporting emotional resilience in pets. At the core of this relationship is the gut microbiome — the trillions of microbes in the digestive tract that communicate with the brain via the gut‑brain axis. A healthy gut ecosystem supports the production and balance of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA, which help regulate mood and stress responses. Holistic Pet Care+1

Here’s how a species‑appropriate raw diet can support mental wellbeing:

1. Balanced Nutrition Supports Neurotransmitter Synthesis

Raw diets rich in highly digestible animal protein provide amino acids like tryptophan and tyrosine, which are precursors for mood‑modulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. Stabilising these pathways helps support emotional balance and reduces reactivity. MDPI

2. Optimising the Gut Microbiome

Diet is one of the most powerful influences on the gut microbiota. Evidence indicates that diets that promote a diverse and balanced microbiome support calmer behaviours and resilience to stress. Studies have linked certain gut bacterial profiles with anxiety levels in companion dogs, suggesting that microbiota composition may be associated with behavioural tendencies. Nature

3. Steady Energy, Steady Mood

Highly processed, high‑carbohydrate diets can cause blood sugar fluctuations that contribute to restlessness and behavioural instability. In contrast, natural raw feeding emphasises high‑quality fats and proteins that support steady energy and metabolic balance — which can help dogs remain calm and focused. Holistic Pet Care

4. Nutrients That Nurture the Brain and Body

Whole‑food diets — rich in unprocessed meats, organs, and beneficial fats — are associated with improved nutrient bioavailability. These nutrients support not just digestive health, but immune function, skin and coat condition, and overall metabolic wellbeing — all of which influence how a dog copes with stress. MDPI

Supportive Environmental Measures

While nutrition lays the foundation, environmental enrichment and behavioural support are essential complements:

• Calming pheromones and aromatherapy can help reduce situational stress.

• Pressure wraps like thunder jackets provide reassuring physical comfort.

• Consistent routines and positive reinforcement training help build confidence and predictable patterns.

Local resources and qualified behaviourists in Aotearoa can offer flight‑tested strategies to address separation anxiety, noise sensitivity, and reactivity. Groups like the Association of Pet Dog Trainers NZ and Force Free Dog Training NZ are excellent resources.

Conclusion

Anxiety in dogs is a real, biological phenomenon with measurable effects on behaviour, digestion, and wellbeing. The gut‑brain connection means that supporting digestive health through a natural, species‑appropriate raw diet can play a meaningful role in emotional resilience. Nutrition — especially diets built on high‑quality, unprocessed animal protein — helps provide the raw materials for healthy neurotransmitter production, steady energy levels, and balanced gut microbiota. Combined with environmental support and enrichment, this foundational approach supports dogs not just physically, but emotionally. At Raw Essentials, we’re committed to helping caregivers understand why raw feeding matters — and how it can contribute to calm, confident, thriving pets.

References

Bonza. (2025, July). The anxiety‑nutrition connection: How diet affects canine mental health and behaviour. https://www.bonza.dog/2025/07/the-anxiety-nutrition-connection-how-diet-affects-canine-mental-health-and-behaviour/ Bonza

MDPI. (2025). Nutraceuticals, social interaction, and psychophysiological influence on pet health and well‑being: Focus on dogs and cats. https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/10/964 MDPI

Nature Communications. (2025). Pellowe, S. D., Zhang, A., Bignell, D. R. D., & Peña‑Castillo, L. Gut microbiota composition is related to anxiety and aggression scores in companion dogs. Scientific Reports, 15, 24336. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06178-4 Nature

Pet Food Industry. (n.d.). Brain‑gut axis and pets’ well‑being. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/nutrition/article/15465413/brain-gut-axis-and-pets-well-being PetfoodIndustry

Purina Institute. (n.d.). Gut microbiota‑gut‑brain axis. https://www.purinainstitute.com/science-of-nutrition/promoting-gastrointestinal-health/gut-brain-axis Purina Institute