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Understanding and Treating Your Dog's Separation Anxiety

Sep 25, 2017

Bringing a dog into your home and family can be fun and exciting, but you will need a great deal of responsibility to care for this new family member. From feeding and training to protecting their health and happiness, dogs can present challenges you haven’t had before.

While most tasks are obvious, certain dogs require treatment and medication for emotional issues that can become dangerous. Because 20% of the 80 million dogs in the nation suffer from separation anxiety, you should understand this disorder to protect your dog, family, and belongings.

With this guide and your veterinarian's help, you will learn the signs and treatment options for dogs with separation anxiety.

Basics of Separation Anxiety

Your dog can’t verbally communicate how they are feeling, but they will display these emotions in physical ways. Whether you leave your puppy home alone in a new place or your older dog is left for a long period of time, they may begin feeling nervous or anxious.

This feeling of anxiety is called separation anxiety. While some dogs can be left alone without any issues, separation anxiety is more common than most people think.

Dogs with separation anxiety may bark and cry when they are left alone, but you will most likely not hear or notice this behavior. However, there are behaviors that you can observe as indications that your dog may have a problem.

Home Damage

Your dog may become so nervous that they feel the need to act on this emotion. Dogs may become aggressive, chewing on walls, doors, and furniture inside your home. You may also notice shoes, clothing, and other belongings are damaged.

Also, dogs with separation anxiety are known to knock down window treatments in an attempt to see outside to try to find you.

Bathroom Accidents

If you are still housetraining your dog, bathroom accidents may be difficult to distinguish from separation anxiety. If your dog is trained, having these accidents in the home while you are gone is almost always a sign of separation anxiety.

Escape Attempts

If you leave your dog in an enclosed space indoors or in a fenced yard outside, your dog may have an increased desire to run away when you leave them alone.

Dogs can behave differently throughout the day, but damage to the home and bathroom accidents while you are away are often signs of aggressive behavior due to separation anxiety. If you notice one or more of these issues, make sure to consult a veterinarian immediately.

Treatment for Separation Anxiety

Before attempting any treatment, your dog's veterinarian will need to run a series of tests to ensure there is no brain damage or other underlying medical condition causing this new behavior.

Once cleared of any medical condition, your veterinarian will recommend treatment options such as desensitization or medication.

Desensitization

Your vet may recommend desensitization to ease your dog's separation anxiety. This is the most common form of treatment and is often effective. When using this method, you will work with a behavioral therapist and trainer to help your dog.

Jingling your car and house keys, opening and closing doors, or starting your car's engine may all trigger emotion in your dog. You can repeat these tasks a few times throughout the day to decrease your dog's sensitivity.

Each time you jiggle the keys or start the car, your dog should show less emotional distress. After a few days or weeks of desensitization therapy, your dog will be able to feel more comfortable when left alone.

Medication

If you prefer a more efficient way to reduce your dog's separation anxiety, medications may be necessary. Today, many dogs are taking antianxiety and antidepressant medications to relax their minds and bodies.

These medications use calming effects to reduce aggression and hyperactivity and therefore decrease the risk of emotional discomfort while you are away. With ongoing treatment, these medications can completely stop problematic behavior caused by separation anxiety.

For help with your dog's behavior, health, and wellness, contact Pet Medical Center of Vero Beach today.

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