Many of us have been there--finding that lone gray hair
that signals to us a change. While we humans associate graying hair with
getting older, in dogs, graying hair can signal loneliness.
Yes, loneliness.
According to a recent
article on CNN, the anxiety and stress of being alone can contribute to
dogs' fur turning gray prematurely. Dogs who are anxious, according to the
research cited, may whine or bark when left alone.
The study
that the article reports on even surprised one of the researchers. The Chicago
Tribune reports that Northern Illinois University professor Thomas Smith
was skeptical at first, but once the data was collected, he saw how stressed
dogs were prematurely gray. It was also found that female dogs were more likely
to gray than male dogs.
The dogs in the study were from the ages of one to four.
Pet owners with dogs in this age range who might be concerned about their dog’s
level of anxiety can check with their veterinarian or a dog trainer to help
alleviate the anxiety. Other suggestions are to not leave the dog alone for so
long each day—Perhaps a dog daycare provider that can provide the dog with care
and attention.
Dogs are often not only great companions, but a big part
of a family, and need care just like humans do.
