Separation Anxiety in Dogs

He’s man’s best friend, your buddy, and pal, but what do you do when your precious pooch suffers from separation anxiety? This debilitating condition is a real thing and many dogs don’t cope when you leave them, resulting in excessive barking, escape attempts, and destructive behaviours. Our dogs are part of the family and nobody wants to see them severely distressed. So, what causes separation anxiety in dogs, what are the symptoms, how do we fix it, and how do we recognise if that is what our dog is suffering from? In this article, we will address all these questions and give you some practical tips that can help to reduce separation anxiety for your dog.

What is Dog Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety is a condition that causes dogs mental and emotional distress when separated from their owner or primary attachment figure. Dogs become visibly upset because they are separated from their guardians, owners, or the people they are dependent on. They often begin to display anxiety as soon as their owners prepare to leave. During departures or separations, dogs may become vocal, destructive, restless, shake, shiver, salivate, refuse to eat, or even become withdrawn.

What Causes Separation Anxiety in Dogs?

As a rule, there is not one definitive cause for separation anxiety in dogs, but rather a combination of factors that contribute. Here are a variety of possible reasons a dog might suffer from separation anxiety.

• Dogs that are adopted from animal shelters may have certain behavioural issues rather than a dog raised within the same family as a puppy.
• Change of ownership. Dogs rely on familiarity and a sudden change of owner can affect a dog’s mental health, resulting in separation anxiety.
• Traumatic event. If the dog is subject to trauma in the absence of its owner this can trigger anxiety.
• Schedule change. An abrupt change in schedule can trigger the development of separation anxiety.
• Change in residence. Moving to a new home can be triggering for dogs.
• Genetic predisposition. Genetics can also be a predictor of anxiety in dogs. In fact, certain breeds are more likely to be anxious when exposed to being alone, such as Border Collies, Australian Shepherd & Jack Russell Terriers.
• Prenatal factors. It is possible that maternal stress can also affect a dog’s development, contributing to the development of an anxiety disorder later on.
• Medical conditions. Medical issues including anything from pulled muscles to thyroid conditions, can cause sudden anxiety in dogs.
• Age. Just like humans, dogs can suffer from age-related anxiety where they develop new fears and confusion that could lead to anxiety when separated from caregivers.

Identifying Dog Separation Anxiety Symptoms

Armed with a better understanding of what causes separation anxiety in dogs, it’s important to recognise the behaviour that might indicate your pet is stressed when left alone. Let’s take a look at the top signs and symptoms of separation anxiety to work out if your precious pet has a chronic condition.

• Destructive behaviour, including destroying furniture and other items in the home or outside.
• Howling and barking.
• Toileting in the home.
• Trembling and panting.
• Excessive salivation.
• Escape attempts.
• Scratching doors, floors, and windows.
• Pacing and repetitive behaviour.
• Digging.
• Excessive excitement when you return.
• Not eating meals or playing with toys when you are out.
• Eating faeces.
• Vomiting.
• Depression.
• Aggression.

Dog Behaviour Issues to Rule Out

Separation anxiety may not necessarily be the problem your dog is suffering from. Bad or destructive behaviour can be due to a range of issues, from boredom to illness, malnutrition, and injury. Let’s have a look at the variety of issues and examine other reasons your pooch might be behaving poorly.

• Instinctive behaviour. Dogs have natural behaviours that don’t necessarily indicate anxiety. These include digging, chewing, rolling in the dirt, chasing, and jumping, and are perfectly normal.
• Barking. There are many reasons a dog barks including warning or alert, playfulness and excitement, attention seeking, and boredom.
• Chewing. Chewing is not only a natural action for dogs but an important activity. Excessive chewing may indicate a puppy’s teething, boredom, or curiosity.
• Bad habits. Habits like jumping on people, climbing on furniture and clinging behaviour can simply be a sign of a lack of boundaries with your dog.
• Digging. Dogs love to dig and it is not necessarily because they are alone. Some do it as they are bored and have excessive energy, a hunting instinct, for comfort, to hide possessions, or to gain access to a garden area.
• Inappropriate elimination. This can simply be poor training when a dog urinates or defecates in the house. It can also be the dog is overexcited or marking its territory.
• Biting. A dog may bite for a number of reasons that are not linked to anxiety. Puppies tend to bite as a form of playfulness and to explore their environment. Older dogs may bite due to defensiveness, protection of property, pain or sickness, or as a predatory instinct.

Medical Issues That Can Cause Anxiety

It may not just be separation from an owner that causes anxiety in our dogs. Medical issues can have a huge impact on a dog’s demeanour. A dog in pain will naturally be more cautious and potentially anxious as a result. Understanding the connection between our pet’s anxiety and possible pain can help address both effectively, leading to a higher quality of life and a calmer state of mind. Let’s take a look at potential medical conditions that can cause anxiety.

• Hypothyroidism. If fear and anxiety symptoms are coupled with hair loss, weight gain, or lethargy, the cause might be a thyroid gland that is not producing sufficient hormones.
• Pre-diabetes. When new generalised anxiety is coupled with excessive thirst, appearance of cataracts, or weight gain, pre-diabetes is a possible issue.
• Vision or hearing loss. If a dog loses one of their senses, it may easily become anxious of their unknown surroundings.
• Encephalitis. This condition which causes inflammation and swelling of brain tissue can result in anxious behaviour, aggression, clumsiness and seizures. At worst, it can also lead to coma.
• Thyrotoxicosis. Known as Grave’s Disease, this autoimmune disorder, although rare, can cause anxiety in dogs.

Dog Separation Anxiety Treatment: Treating Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Any extreme or sudden behaviour change in your dog should be diagnosed by a vet to rule out dangerous underlying medical conditions. Once you’ve eliminated alternative possibilities like illness, boredom, injury or just poor training , it may well be separation anxiety causing your dog to behave badly. But don’t panic. All is not lost. The most important thing is you have noticed the signs and there are numerous treatments, techniques and training methods.

Explore Dog Separation Anxiety Training Techniques

First of all, let’s examine the training methods for dogs with separation anxiety.

• Positive reinforcement training. This training uses a reward (treats, praise, toys, anything the dog finds rewarding) for desired behaviours. Because the reward makes them more likely to repeat the behaviour, positive reinforcement is one of your most powerful tools for shaping or changing your dog’s behaviour.
• Gradual desensitisation. Start by leaving the house for 60 seconds. When the dog is calm and quiet, return. Gradually prolong the time until you return.
• Pre-departure cues. Part of training your dog to be comfortable with your absence is to desensitise them to the habits you have before walking out the door. These are called pre-departure cues and include things like picking up the keys, putting on shoes, and locking the door. To desensitise your dog to these cues, pick up the keys at random intervals through the day, walk towards the door, then sit back down and don’t leave the house.
• Crate training. Crate training can help a dog work towards decreased separation anxiety. The crate should feel like a safe space for your pooch and it can be made appealing with toys and treats. When crate training, remember to be patient with your dog, use positive reinforcement and slowly increase crate time.

Try Dog Separation Anxiety Medication

There’s no doubt separation anxiety in our treasured canines can be stressful for all the family members, as nobody wants to see a distressed pet. If all else fails, there are medications available to help our four-legged friends, so a trip to the vet might be in order. Medications for short-term and long-term use can be prescribed by your veterinarian. Here’s a list of the most commonly vet-prescribed anti-anxiety medication for dogs.

• Fluoxetine. Fluoxetine is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This results in increased levels of serotonin in the brain. Fluoxetine is well tolerated by dogs and can be dosed once or twice daily and needs to be given for at least 6-8 weeks before deciding whether it is helping your dog.
• Clomipramine. This antidepressant is typically prescribed in the treatment of compulsive disorders, including separation anxiety disorder in dogs. Many veterinary professionals recommend clomipramine for treating at least some cases of separation anxiety in dogs because it is an effective medication for this condition and tends to be better tolerated by some anxious dogs than medications such as fluoxetine. Clomipramine needs to be given twice daily.
• Trazodone. An antidepressant medication, Trazodone is believed to act on serotonin uptake in the brain and has a calming effect. Trazodone typically isn’t used as often as medications such as fluoxetine or clomipramine because it tends to be less effective than medications that affect serotonin levels, but it can be effective for some dogs. Trazodone has a wide margin of safety in dogs but it is best to be used as adjunctive therapy to fluoxetine as the efficacy when used as sole therapy is low.
• Benzodiazepines. The most common drug of choice for dogs is alprazolam. Benzodiazepines are medications that often have a sedative effect on dogs. They have a short half-life and therefore are better used for acute anxious episodes or to complement the effects of fluoxetine or clomipramine.
• Gabapentin. This drug specifically enhances GABA activity, resulting in a sedative effect. It is most commonly used as an analgesic drug for dogs, although there has been some studies indicating it can be useful for dogs with anxiety.

Alternative Treatments

While medication can provide a solution to anxiety in dogs, there are always other alternative treatments. If you prefer a more holistic approach, here’s a few natural remedies to help reduce your pup’s anxiety.

• Exercise. It’s amazing how a walk or some good exercise can be a stress reliever for humans and it’s the same for our dogs. Getting your dog outside the house for play and exercise is a great remedy for anxiety.
• Music. Try leaving the radio or tv going when your pet is home alone. It can help them feel comforted and relieve separation anxiety. Make sure you have music playing when you are home as well.
• Aromatherapy. Use diffusers with essential oils to let your dog benefit from their soothing properties. Frankincense and lavender are the most effective to alleviate a pet’s anxiety.
• Massage. Just 10 to 15 minutes a day massaging the top of your dog’s head, feet, and ears are great for stress relief and reducing anxiety.
• Supplements. Melatonin is a common supplement to reduce dog’s stress and anxiety. The use of this hormone can work to calm your dog for short periods and helps with sleep.

Pet Doors and Separation Anxiety

Installing a pet door can be a wonderful way to help reduce separation anxiety in dogs. Allowing them to go outside and distract themselves when they start to feel anxious or return inside if they would like your attention or affection. They are also an ideal tool for when you are away from home, with a pet door installed your dog can go out and pee, preventing both accidents and anxiety. Access to the backyard means less destructive behaviour inside the home and prevents boredom.

Read our article on our recommendations for the best dog door here.

Our four-legged friends are part of the family. They thrive on love and human interaction. It’s little wonder separation anxiety is so common in the canine world with our precious dogs becoming anxious when separated from their human family. In this article, we have explained how to recognize separation anxiety and offered some solutions and techniques to help your dog remain calm and relaxed when you are absent from home. The good news is it’s perfectly treatable. Using anything from behaviour modification and positive reinforcement, to pet doors, crate training, prescribed medications and even natural therapies, it is possible to alleviate his separation anxiety. Before you know it, your furry bundle of joy will be back to their old self, living a happy and healthy life.