While staying safe at home during the Covid-19 pandemic has been challenging for most of us humans, pets have been enjoying more time than ever with their owners. This can make those pets who suffer from separation anxiety even more anxious when we start to ease back into the workplace and our old routines. But there are steps you can take to lessen the anxiety, and make your time apart a lot less stressful (and often less destructive).
In Nature, Dogs are Almost Never Separated From Their Pack
This is why you might get reports from neighbors of hearing howling when you’re away or come home to find the fluffy filling of your favorite throw pillow all over the living room. Separation anxiety can display itself in many forms, including destructive chewing, digging, excessive barking, scratching, or even marking their territory inside the house. For some pets, it’s more of a boredom issue, which typically occurs an hour or more after you leave. If you run an errand and are gone for thirty minutes or so and you don’t find any problems when you come home, your pet is probably more bored than anxious. However, separation anxiety is very real for many dogs and cats.
What are Some of the Triggers of Separation Anxiety?
There is no conclusive evidence as to why some pets develop separation anxiety and others do not. Typically, dogs are more prone to it than cats, with dogs who have been adopted from shelters displaying this behavior more than pets who have been with the same family since puppy or kittenhood. One of the biggest triggers is the loss of an important person or group of people in a pet’s life. Other triggers include a change of guardian or family, change of schedule, change of residence, or the addition of someone new to the household.
It’s Important to First Rule Out Any Potential Medical Problems
While some dogs or cats urinate in inappropriate places to show their displeasure at being left alone, it could be due to incontinence. Pets who are incontinent are often unaware that they voided their bladder. Incontinence can be due to a urinary tract infection, a weak sphincter due to old age, hormone-related issues after a neuter or spay, diabetes, neurological problems, and more. It’s important to make sure have your pet checked out by our vet team at Jacksonville Community Pet Clinic to rule out any of these issues before self-diagnosing a pet with separation anxiety.
What can you do to help eliminate separation anxiety?
With proper conditioning you can help ease your pet out of the stress of you being away. Here are some tips to lessen the anxiety.
Tips
- Take your dog for a walk before you leave. Rigorous exercise followed by a reward of food and water can help leave your pet in a quiet, resting mode upon your departure.
- Eliminate the boredom. Make sure your pets have plenty of toys, scratching posts, and other diversions to keep them occupied while you are away. Activity balls with kibbles are a diversion that can keep pets occupied for hours.
- Don’t make a big deal out of leaving. If you’re stressing about leaving your pet, they will sense it. Famed dog trainer Cesar Milan stresses no touch, no talk and no eye contact for several minutes before you leave.
- Start out small. If you are quarantined or are working from home, try leaving for five minutes at first and work your way up to longer periods of time apart.
- Turn up the sound. Leaving an audiobook playing or the TV on can make the house feel less empty to your pet. Channels like Animal Planet and DogTV are a great choices. There’s even a 24-hour YouTube channel for cats called CatTV.
If these tips aren’t working, consider taking your dog to a doggy day care or to work with you if that’s an option. Have a friend, family member or neighbor who spends a lot of time at home drop in the check on your cat at unscheduled times throughout the day. For some dogs, crates can give them an added feeling of security. If all else fails, there are medications that can help your pet cope with separation anxiety. Ask us at the Jax Community Pet Clinic which treatment might be best for your pet.
Above all, never scold a pet for behaviors displayed as a result of separation anxiety. It only increases the anxiousness they feel when you’re away, fearing they’ll be reprimanded upon your return. In time, and with the help of your veterinarian and/or trainer, you can overcome these issues.
