Separation anxiety can really influence a person’s wellbeing, but what about man’s best friend? A happy dog is an important part of family wellness, because a panicky pup can end up destroying your household belongings, as well as slowly damaging his own mental and physical wellness. It’s essential to note the difference between separation anxiety and misbehaviour, as your dog isn’t simply miffed about being left alone, and taking it out on your furniture. At best, he’s bored, but the worst case explanation is that your dog is in a state of serious panic.
There are many causes of separation anxiety, but it sometimes involves a traumatic experience. Your dog may have been caught in a traffic accident, lost in unfamiliar surroundings, or become saddened by the death of a person or pet in your home. In most cases, no single event causes separation anxiety; it’s just your dog’s genetic predisposition. It’s hard to tell whether or not your dog is affected, as you’re not there to witness his behaviour, but certain signs can give you a clue as to whether or not you should be concerned:
1. Destructive behaviours: Your dog may have been chewing pillows or furniture, mutilating plants, or relentlessly scratching at doors and windows while you’ve been out.
2. Nervous noises: When you leave the house, your dog constantly barks, whines or howls.
3. Unpleasant odours: You come home to find an unwanted present on your carpet, be it the smell of urine or something worse, when your dog is fully-trained to urinate or defecate outside.
4. Worried walking: Your dog may pace intensely and persistently when he’s kept in another room away from everyone.
5. Harmful Houdini: If you keep your dog in a separate room or crate, he may try to escape to the point that he injures himself.
6. Anxious body language: Your dog may show certain physiological responses, such as dilated pupils or excessive panting.
Remember, there’s a difference between the disorder and just nuisance behaviour. Your furry little friend may just enjoy chewing on your slippers from time to time – he’s not doing it as a cry for help. The way to tell the problem is serious is if the behaviour occurs every time you leave, the behaviour occurs only in your absence, and if the anxious behaviours begin even before you go. Your dog may start acting out as soon as you put your shoes on, as he knows this means you’ll soon be leaving.
Your vet may recommend medications if your dog’s separation anxiety is serious. A new drug, Reconcile, is based on Prozac and can help pets to relax. However, the most commonly used separation anxiety treatment is desensitisation, or gradually getting your dog used to your departure. If you think this is the best treatment option for your pet, it’s highly recommended that you seek assistance from a reputable behaviourist or your vet. The process can usually be successful within eight weeks, but rare cases have taken much longer.
If you’re starting with a puppy, it is possible to prevent separation anxiety as long as you teach him that leaving him alone actually means good things. Follow these tips to get your pet associating your departure with something positive:
- Leave Kongs filled with peanut butter or cottage cheese so he has something to dig up when you’re gone.
- Hide treats in his crate or around the house.
- Hide his toys in places he knows to search.
- Tire him out with plenty of exercise so he’ll be more content to sleep or just take it easy when you leave.
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