Separation anxiety in pets

For many people, the holiday season is already over and the summer has flown by. The end of summer also means that children go back to school and adults have to return to work. After a summer full of fun and daily attention from their owners, it can be an adjustment for your pet to be alone at home more often. Separation anxiety may then be a risk. In this blog, you will learn more about separation anxiety in pets and get tips on how to (re)train your four-legged friend to be alone at home.

What is separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety in pets means that an animal panics when left alone. In most cases, the animal has developed an extreme attachment to one particular person and panics when that person is not present. A behavioral disorder like separation anxiety can occur in many different pets. Think of dogs and cats, but also rodents and even ornamental birds can suffer from separation anxiety. It is a relatively common problem; it is estimated that 10 to 15% of all household dogs suffer from separation anxiety. Dogs are naturally pack animals, which means they like to be part of a group. This explains why separation anxiety occurs less frequently in cats; they naturally prefer to live solitary.

Symptoms

The symptoms of separation anxiety vary widely. The difference between behavior associated with separation anxiety and ‘normal’ bad behavior is clear: your pet does not show this behavior when you are home or nearby. Your pet’s behavior depends on the severity of the anxiety. The most common symptoms of pets with separation anxiety are:

• Restlessness during or leading up to separation
• Destructive behavior, such as damaging furniture
• Vocalizing (barking, whining, squeaking, meowing)
• Panting
• Pacing inside the house
• Eliminating indoors
• Escape attempts (damaging doors, the bed, or a crate)
• Loss of appetite
• Other stress symptoms, such as excessive licking, biting, and scratching

Cause of separation anxiety
To treat separation anxiety in your four-legged friend, it is important to identify the cause of the anxiety. Generally, many pets are creatures of habit and get used to routines. So, if you have been home a lot for an extended period, for example during the summer holidays, the animal becomes accustomed and attached to that. Other causes of developing a behavioral disorder like separation anxiety in a pet include being rehomed (multiple times), having been in a shelter, or having had a traumatic experience as a young animal when left alone at home.