Separation Anxiety in Pets

How to tell, what to do...

Does your pet panic when you leave?

Many people can remember being alone at times in their life. Maybe you can remember getting lost in a supermarket, or the first time you were home alone without a babysitter. Being alone is pretty stressful, and one of the natural reactions to it (for humans anyway) is to cry and worry.

People aren't the only ones that being left alone can be stressful for. The animals that seem to be most affected by separation are our canine friends. But our other pets--cats, birds, maybe fish(?!) can suffer the same too. Dogs and cats often form strong emotional bonds with us and it's only natural that they feel the effects of us being away from them.

Dogs especially are affected, and when left alone by their owners, become really upset. They can get restless and careless as "dog depression" sets in. We call this separation anxiety.

Often when dogs don't have enough socialization time with other dogs and people, they are more succeptible to separation anxiety. A dog that experienced trauma in its life or had many different owners can also be more likely to develop this problem. Dogs that have sudden changes in their living environment can develop anxiety problems if you aren't careful to help them get used to their new home.

Some signs and symptoms for dog separation anxiety follow. You can be sure that your dog (or other pet) will be very anxious and distressed. They'll bark and whine whenever you leave for more that a little while. Chewing on furniture, appliances, shoes, boxes, and all kinds of different objects is common. Sometimes they'll throw up, or urinate and poop in different places inside your house. Many dogs will seek lots of attention when you're gone and go absolutely "nuts" when you get back.

It can be difficult to treat seperation anxiety, since it occurs when the owner is not at home. Some experts suggest medications for severe cases of anxiety or when your pet must be left alone for an extended period. Consult your veterinarian for more information about anxiety-suppressing drugs and which ones are safest for your pet. Don't forget to ask your vet if they have any stress treatment programs they can suggest.

There are some ways you can help reduce the effects of seperation anxiety:

• Make leaving and coming back home low key--don't make a big deal out of it, or your excitement can affect your pet.
• Figure out the best time to leave as to least affect your dog.
• Turn on a radio or TV to give your pet human voices to listen to while you're away.
• Also, make sure your dog has something to do while you are gone.
• Finally, make sure your pet gets plenty of exercise and a good, healthy diet.

Ignoring separation anxiety can just make the problem worse. As soon as you start noticing any symptoms of seperation anxiety, consider taking your best friend to the vet--for both of your sakes. ;-)