subject: Separation Anxiety And Your Dog [print this page] Dogs of any breed can experience separation anxiety. It occurs in both male and female dogs. Although it may be related to a dog's temperament it does not seem to be genetic in origin. Instead, everything indicates that separation anxiety occurs because of a lack of socialization in a puppy's early life or because a dog has lived through an abusive or traumatic situation.
Your dog may be displaying signs of separation anxiety if he shows some of the following symptoms:
- Your dog can't stand to let you out of his sight
- He may follow you from room to room
- He may chew on things that have your scent
- When you leave the house he may urinate and defecate in the house even if he is well house trained
- He may whimper and cry when you leave him alone in the house for less than half an hour, even if there are other people in the house
- Your dog may dig, chew or scratch on himself
Genuine separation anxiety is a psychological condition that is similar to anxiety conditions in humans. It's quite different from boredom or loneliness. Some dogs may bark and whine when their owner first leaves the house or they may be bored when they're left alone. That's understandable. A dog that whines and barks when you leave usually stops quickly and sleeps or plays with toys. A bored dog may play with toys or destroy things. But separation anxiety is much more serious.
If you suspect that your dog has separation anxiety you should take him to your veterinarian and discuss the problem. Your vet can rule out any physical cause for your dog's behavior. He may recommend a blood count, urinalysis and other tests. He may recommend treating your dog in the short-term with medication such as clomipramine and amitriptyline. If your vet prescribes medication for your dog you should follow the dosing exactly. Be sure to give the medication regularly and not just when your dog is showing signs of anxiety. It takes some time for the medication to build up and work.
The purpose of the medication is to allow your dog's anxiety to lessen so that he can learn new, positive behavior patterns and reactions. While taking the medication you will need to work with your dog yourself or find a certified animal behavioral consultant who can help your dog overcome his anxiety problems.
You should also increase the amount of exercise that your dog is getting. Exercise can be beneficial in reducing anxiety for many dogs.
In order to deal with the problem of leaving your dog at times you may want to consider using a doggy daycare for him. It may not solve his separation anxiety issues but it's better than leaving him alone. For most dogs with real separation anxiety crating is not a good idea. Dogs with separation anxiety may try to chew their way out of a crate and can injure themselves. Crating may make them worse. You could also consider using a pet sitter or finding a friend who could watch your dog during the day.
If your dog does have separation anxiety you shouldn't get up on him. With the proper treatment your dog can overcome his separation anxiety and live a happy life with you.
