Separation Anxiety

What is Separation Anxiety?

How many times have you come home to garbage, urine, or pillow stuffing on the floor and thought,” He was just mad that I left.” Dog’s become destructive, not our of anger, but out of stress.  Dogs with separation anxiety suffer from an overwhelming or uncontrollable fear or panic very similar to panic attacks in humans. Pets that suffer from anxiety usually start showing destructive behavior within 30 minutes of the owner leaving. Scolding pets that suffer from separation anxiety generally only heightens their anxiety and can actually do more harm than good.

How do I know if my dog has separation anxiety?

• Does your dog become destructive or soil the carpets when left alone?
• Does he act panicked or overly anxious just before you leave?
• Does he dig or scratch at a closed door or window to try and get to where you are?
• Have your neighbors complained about his howling, barking or whining while you are gone?

If you answered yes to any of these questions than your pet may be suffering from separation anxiety. Other signs and symptoms may include:

• Vomiting or incontinence when left alone
• Trembling or restlessness
• Excessive salivation
• Reluctance to spend time outdoors alone
• Loss of appetite when alone
• Prolonged excitement during homecomings

So what can you do?

1. First and foremost contact your Veterinarian.  Any treatments for separation anxiety (behavioral or medical) should be closely monitored by a Veterinarian or Veterinary Behavior Specialist. There are also anti-anxiety medications that may help reduce a pet’s overall stress.
2. Don’t make a big deal out of leaving or returning home.  For example… when you return home ignore your pet for the first few minutes until they calm down then, only after they have settled, calmly pet them.
3. Give your pet plenty of interactive toys to help to keep them distracted and focused on something other than your leaving.  For example: Instead of feeding your pet in a bowl, place their food in a Kong or hide multiple bowls throughout the house.  He will be distracted and mentally stimulated having to focus on getting to or finding his food instead of you being away.
4. Take your dog to a doggie day care facility where he can be constantly engaged and distracted.  This can also be a family member or friend that your pet is familiar and comfortable with.
5. Appeasing pheromones like Adaptil can help lessen the anxiety
   response. Pheromones are perceived through different sensory action the one used to smell odors. By replicating this signal of comfort, these pheromones helps alleviate fear and stress related signs.
6. Desensitization behavior training is training techniques that help lessen the effects of the triggers that initiates their panic response.  For example… every time we leave the house, we pick up our keys.  Your pet automatically associates this with the idea that you are going to leave and becomes panicked.  You can lessen the effects of this trigger by carrying your keys with you at all times and randomly jingling them throughout the day.  He will soon realize that the noise does not always mean that you are going to leave.  Next jingle your keys before small trips outside (getting the mail, taking out the trash, mowing the lawn, etc.)  This helps to minimize initial reaction because you may be leaving but you come right back.
7. Create a safe zone for your pet.  A place where they can sleep, play and eat that is quiet and entirely theirs.  This should be a place where your pet can retreat to on their own or when instructed to by you.  Have your pet spend time alone while you are home so that placement in this safe area does not become a trigger for your leaving.  The pheromone diffuser should be placed closest to this area

What doesn’t work?

• Punishments DO NOT WORK on separation anxiety and can actually make the situation worse.
• Sometimes getting another dog can help, but not usually. Generally separation anxiety has to do with being separated from you (the owner) and not from any fear of being alone.