SEPARATION ANXIETY  

Separation anxiety occurs when the normal behavioral pattern of a pet is broken by a lack of one’s presence. The presence can be a human or fellow pet. I see this syndrome more commonly in single pet households in which there is a strong bond between the pet and owners. The most common behavior complaints reported to me include:

• destructive digging at the door
• chewing up furniture
• chewing on objects (ex: shoes, etc.)

I personally feel pets perform this behavior because they have a break in interaction with their favorite pastime which is their owner. My pets will begin to have this behavior in my experience before the person leaves the home. If we stop and think about how our pets are whining when they hear the treat jar open, we know this is a learned condition. The same signal is sent when we pick up our keys and perform activities to leave the home. This signal tells the pet we are leaving.

A diagnosis of the conditions is often made on historic findings, along with ruling out the other causes of the disease. The primary treatment is physiological therapy conditioning of the pet. To treat this condition, the owner can turn this scary alone time for the pet into a good time. I often recommend to the client the following:

• Do not spend cuddle time with your pet prior to departure.
• Pick up keys when at home so the act is dissociated with leaving.
• Ignore the pet when first arriving at your home.
• Give treats to the pet when leaving to make your pet think, “When he/she leaves I will get a treat.”
• Give pets toys only when alone. This will keep them interested in the toy and help to occupy their time.

These are a few tricks I have learned. In some cases medications must be used. Check with your vet to see if your pet has this condition and his/her recommendation for treatment.

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