In human health, we’ve long known about the intricate link between anxiety and gut health. But did you know the same connection exists for dogs?

As an Animal Kinesiologist, this is a common aspect I address with my dog clients.  Many of the dogs I work with struggle with digestive or immune-related issues, such as food intolerances, allergies, or skin conditions. And guess what? These physical symptoms almost always go hand-in-hand with emotional stress, particularly anxiety.

Let me break it down for you.

Anxiety and Control: A Dog’s Coping Mechanism

Dogs with anxiety often have a deep-seated fear of failure. Yes, you read that right—fear of failure! They worry about things going wrong and doubt their ability to handle challenges. To cope, they try to control their environment as a way to manage their internal emotions. In other words, they deal with their anxiety by “organising” the world around them, minimising the potential for unpredictability and risk. By developing ways to control their external environment, it helps them manage the emotional chaos inside. Think of it as them saying, “If I can just control what’s happening around me, I’ll feel better.”

This can show up in a dog’s behaviour in the following ways:

Creating routines and rules.
These dogs are the timekeepers of your household. They’ll let you know exactly when it’s dinner time, walk time, or bedtime. Structure is their safety net, and they thrive on predictability.

Constantly checking in.
You might notice your dog is always keeping tabs on you—sometimes to the point of separation anxiety when you leave their “zone of control.”

Being particular about boundaries.
Some dogs will prefer physical contact on their terms. Others might be overly clingy, always seeking validation and staying close to predict your next move.

Appearing stubborn or bossy.
These behaviours can sometimes be mistaken for confidence. But true confidence is calm, flexible, and self-assured. What’s happening here is quite the opposite—a deep need to control the environment because they don’t feel in control internally.

So, What Does This Have to Do with Digestion and Skin?

A lot, actually! Let’s talk about the two big emotional factors at play here:

The Need for Control

Dogs with a strong need for control often struggle with an intolerance for change. This rigid mindset leads to a loss of problem-solving ability, and loss of emotional resilience. And here’s where it gets interesting: the digestive system mirrors these emotional patterns.

A healthy digestive system needs to be flexible and responsive. It has to adapt to different foods, adjust absorption based on biochemical feedback, and maintain smooth, forward movement. If this process becomes rushed, forced, or overly controlled, problems arise.

For anxious dogs, excessive control creates tension within their bodies. Their digestive system loses efficiency, resulting in inflammation, disrupted intestinal motility (too slow or too fast), and resistance to forward movement. It’s like their emotions of control spill over into their gut, creating physical imbalances.

Boundaries and Digestion

The digestive system is essentially a continuous boundary within the body. It regulates what gets absorbed and what gets eliminated—like a gatekeeper deciding who’s allowed in and who isn’t.

When a dog struggles with emotional stress around boundaries (like being too dependent or too defensive), this can show up physically. Their digestive boundaries may weaken, leading to problems like leaky gut or inflammation. And it doesn’t stop there—these boundary issues often extend to the skin, which is the body’s outermost barrier, and first line of defence. Skin conditions like rashes or allergies can be a physical manifestation of the emotional stress tied to boundaries. The immune system as a whole becomes over-active in response to the trigger of compromised boundaries within the body.

Understanding the Bigger Picture

When we step back, it’s clear that the mind and body are deeply connected. For dogs, emotional stress like anxiety isn’t just about behaviour—it’s a whole-body experience. Animal Kinesiology is an animal energy healing modality that addresses both the emotional and physical aspects of a dog’s wellbeing, holistically restoring true balance and health. 

Do you recognise any of these behaviours or physical symptoms in your dog? If so, it might be time to explore how emotional stress is impacting their gut health, and discover how Animal Kinesiology can help.