Separation anxiety is a fairly common physical and/or behavioral distress response displayed by some domestic dogs when they are left alone or otherwise separated from their owners. Specifically, it involves panic and agitation that leads to destructive and otherwise inappropriate behaviors. Separation anxiety can be very disturbing and frustrating to owners; it can be serious enough to cause them to surrender their dogs to animal shelters or elsewhere. This is a recognized medical syndrome in
The primary complaint by owners of dogs with separation anxiety is that their pet engages in extremely destructive behaviors, vocalizes and soils in the house when the owner is absent. Regardless of the specific expression of the disorder in any given case, separation anxiety usually is extremely frustrating and difficult for dog owners to live with. It also takes a huge toll on the affected animal, both mentally and physically.Owners of dogs with separation anxiety
Separation anxiety can be difficult to diagnose, depending on how it presents in a given animal. Dogs with wounds from constant licking, chewing or scratching will go through different diagnostic procedures than those with inappropriate elimination, lack of appetite or excessive vocalization. Owners should be patient when working with their veterinarians and with other canine behavioral professionals, because while diagnosis can take some time, separation anxiety can be quite manageable and even treatable in the
Separation anxiety is something that dogs experience when they become excessively distressed by being apart from the person to whom they are the most attached. It can lead to a number of problems, including inappropriate elimination, vocalization and episodes of highly destructive behavior, among many others. There are various ways to address separation anxiety that are both medical and non-medical in nature. The overall treatment goal is to change the dog’s behavior so that it