Don’t Leave Me!

By Michael Forney, DVM VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital

Ever increasingly, I hear from clients that their pet has “separation anxiety.” Well actually, that was before COVID-19 hit—with more owners working from home, I’m hearing it less. But it can be a very troubling problem. When owners think their beloved Fido has separation anxiety, sometimes they are correct and sometimes they are not. I think it is wonderful that people are becoming more aware of various behavior issues that can afflict pets. However, separation anxiety is not an umbrella term and should not be applied to all anxious behaviors that occur when an owner leaves an animal behind at home. There may be other underlying motivators behind a pet’s behaviors that need to be investigated. So then it begs the question—what is “separation anxiety?”

Separation anxiety refers to a behavioral disorder or a distress response that occurs when a dog is separated from the person(s) to whom it is attached (this may or may not be the owner(s)). It is an extreme and excessive response. Various explanations exist as to why this occurs—the affected dog may have hyper-attachment to the owner, or it may have more general anxiety and is less able to cope when the owner is absent. A number of observed behaviors can occur when the animal is left alone, including vocalization (barking, whining), destructive behaviors (chewing, digging, etc.), self-trauma, inappropriate elimination, panting, and other signs of fear or distress (loss of appetite, withdrawal, and more).

Behavioral problems need to be addressed from multiple angles if the therapy is to succeed.

Of course, the aforementioned behaviors can also occur in response to other motivators. Therefore, it is important to rule out potential causes. Animals may have barrier or confinement frustration; dogs may be reacting to other stimuli that occur when the owner is absent (territoriality toward the mailman, fear of the loud garbage truck, or lack of enrichment during the day); patients may also have a medical issue—urinary or gastrointestinal disease, cognitive decline, and many other possible conditions.

Behavioral Issues?

Hence, whenever an owner thinks their dog has separation anxiety, it is important to have Fluffy or Ginger evaluated by a trained veterinary professional who can appropriately investigate the history and may recommend diagnostics to rule out medical disease.

If a veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist does suspect a patient suffers from separation anxiety, he or she will likely make a number of recommendations to treat the dog. Medications to reduce fear and anxiety are indicated in these cases; however, they are not appropriate as sole therapeutics. Behavioral problems need to be addressed from multiple angles if the therapy is to succeed. This means that Fido will not get better just from taking a pill every day. He will need a committed owner to implement a number of management and behavior modification strategies to help reduce Fido’s fear or distress when the owner is away from home. Strategies can include increased exercise before the owner leaves for the day, relaxation exercises to reinforce calming behaviors, regular structured interactions at home, items of enrichment to keep the patient engaged when alone, desensitization and counter-conditioning intended to change the dog’s emotional state around her owner’s departure, and many more. Owners should contact a trained veterinarian or veterinary behaviorist on how to best conduct these types of exercises.

With any behavioral issue, owners should have realistic expectations on progress and timeframes. Separation anxiety, like many other behavioral disorders, will not disappear instantaneously with a magic pill. Patients range in the severity of their signs, and some may respond more quickly to treatment. Treatment will likely take at least several months, and dogs can have relapses (owners have an unexpected trip, change jobs, move homes, etc.). Be patient with your furry friend, and remember that their behavior is not spiteful or directed toward you, but rather is based in fear and distress.

VCA Rancho Mirage Animal Hospital 71-075 Highway 111 Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 Business Hours: Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM