It’s safe to say that as pet parents, we’d love our pets to be
with us all the time – and for many pets, the feeling is mutual. Pets that were
adopted in the last few years have had the benefit of their pawrent spending
more time at home during the workday. Previously, pets would have had to learn
to spend long periods alone but this is no longer the case. While this new way
of life has many benefits, it has unfortunately caused a rise in the instances
of separation anxiety in pets.
What causes separation anxiety
in pets?
There’s no one event that causes separation anxiety in pets –
each pet’s response to stressors is different. However, there are three common
changes that a pet could experience that could trigger the development of
separation anxiety.
- Family changes:
Pets
that have recently been abandoned, surrendered to a shelter, or rehomed can
develop separation anxiety.
- Changes in
daily schedule: Sudden and drastic changes in daily schedules, such as an
increase in the amount of time they spend at home alone, can also trigger
separation anxiety in pets.
- Changes in
household: Moving to a new house or changes in who lives in the house can
cause a pet to feel stressed and, over time, cause separation anxiety.
While these are three common situations that cause separation
anxiety in pets, there could be other situations so it’s important that you’re
familiar with the signs your pet may display.
Signs of separation
anxiety in pets
Just like there’s no one cause of separation anxiety in pets,
not every pet shows the same signs. The most common signs of separation anxiety
include:
- Destructive
behavior: This can include things like chewing or destroying furniture or
other household items, especially those close to doors and windows.
- Excessive
vocalization: Non-stop howling, barking, and whining that starts within a
few minutes of your departure.
- Accidents in
the house: Fully housetrained or litterbox trained, but consistently has
accidents when home alone.
- Repetitive
behaviors: Pacing, licking their paws, biting their tail or other body
parts.
- Visible
anxiety: Excessive salivation, trembling, panting, or vomiting.
If your pet displays any of these behaviors when left home alone
they likely are experiencing separation anxiety, but please note that some of
these signs are similar to those of other health issues. This is why it’s
important that you schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out
any underlying health issues.
How to overcome
separation anxiety in pets
Once your pet has been given a clean bill of health, you can
look into ways of helping them manage their separation anxiety. For pets that
have mild separation anxiety, it can be helpful to try the following methods:
- Start with
short periods of alone time: If your pet doesn’t have a lot of experience
being home alone, start by leaving them alone for short periods of time – 5 to
10 minutes – and then work your way up. Before you leave, don’t make a big show
of saying goodbye to your pet as this will teach them that your leaving is a
big deal. Instead, say a quick goodbye and leave calmly.
- Keep their minds active: When a pet’s mind is active, they’re less likely to feel anxious. A Kong filled with their favorite Freshpet recipe or fresh treat will keep them busy for up to an hour, or even longer if you freeze it before giving it to them.
- Give them a
special toy: Having a special toy that your pet can only play with while
you’re gone is a great way to help them start to associate alone time with
something positive. For instance, the Kong filled with Freshpet could be saved
as a special treat for when they’re alone – just be sure to put it away as soon
as you’re back.
- Leave them in a
quiet environment: Some pets can become distressed by sights and sounds from
outside when they’re home alone. Closing the blinds and leaving the tv or radio
on to muffle noise can be very calming.
- Hire a pet sitter: If you know that you’re going to be out for longer than your pet is comfortable being alone, consider hiring a pet sitter to stay with them. If this is your first time hiring someone to stay with your pet, take a look at our tips for finding a great pet sitter.
- Speak to your
veterinarian about medication: If these methods alone are not working, your
veterinarian may recommend supplemental medications to help your pet better
deal with their separation anxiety.
If your pet’s separation anxiety is not resolved by any of the methods above, you’ll want to speak to a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist. They will be able to assess the severity of the separation anxiety in your pets, or pet, and develop a plan to help them deal with it. Usually, this involves counterconditioning, which is a process that helps change your pet’s anxious reaction to a relaxed one. This is done by teaching your pet to associate an anxiety-inducing situation, such as being home alone, with something positive, such as their favorite toy or treat. Over time, their feelings of anxiety will be replaced with more positive ones.
We hope that these tips help you deal with separation anxiety in
pets. If you have any further questions about separation anxiety, schedule a
call with your vet. They’ll be able to answer any of your questions and work
with you to come up with a plan to help your pet feel more comfortable being
alone.
