Identifying and Coping With Separation Anxiety in Pets

As a pet parent, you share a special bond with your dog or cat. However, sometimes pets can become hyper-attached to their humans. When this occurs, your absence can cause your pet stress. Your cat or dog can act out in destructive or disruptive ways. This is a pattern of behavior called separation anxiety. Fortunately, there are things that you can do to calm your pet.

What Causes Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety often results from some kind of trauma. Pets who have experienced abuse or neglect are more likely to have separation anxiety. The death of a member of your household, such as a family member or another pet, can cause separation anxiety.

If you have recently adopted a dog or cat from a shelter, he may be more likely to experience separation anxiety for a few reasons. Even a well-equipped, well-staffed, and well-run shelter is an inherently stressful environment for pets. At the same time, taking a pet out of a familiar situation and introducing him somewhere new can also have an adverse effect on his psyche.

Any significant change in your pet's living situation or routine can trigger separation anxiety. For example, if your family recently moved to a new home, that can cause feelings of uncertainty or anxiety for a pet. If you or members of your family were home for a long period of time and then returned to work or school, this can also be a cause of separation anxiety for pets.

Separation anxiety can affect both dogs and cats.

What Are the Symptoms of Separation Anxiety?

Separation anxiety can range from mild to severe. Symptoms can be difficult to recognize because when you are at home, your pet may behave normally. It is only when you are gone that your pet may start acting out.

When you come home, you may notice signs of your pet's anxious behavior, such as chewed or scratched furniture or damage to doors and windows where your pet has been trying to scratch through them or dig under them. You may find that your pet has urinated or defecated in inappropriate places despite being housebroken. Your neighbors may report excessive whining or howling.

Occasional whining, howling, chewing, and scratching are to be expected with a pet, especially when she is new to the household and hasn't had a chance to learn the rules. However, with separation anxiety, these behaviors are excessive. They disrupt your home environment. Constant high levels of stress can have negative effects on your pet's health.

What Products Are Available To Help With Separation Anxiety?

If you suspect that your pet is experiencing separation anxiety, the first thing to do is to take her to a vet. Sometimes symptoms similar to those of separation anxiety can have an underlying medical cause. For example, a urinary tract infection can cause a housebroken pet to have accidents around the house. If there is a medical problem causing your pet's symptoms, your vet can recommend appropriate treatment.

If you rule out a medical problem and your pet is still showing symptoms of separation anxiety, there are products that can help. Some products use synthetic pheromones to calm anxious pets. These products mimic naturally occurring chemicals that mother cats or dogs give off to calm their kittens or puppies. Your pet does not have to be a kitten or puppy for synthetic pheromones to work; they are effective on older pets as well.

Certain essential oils may be effective at calming cats and dogs and easing their anxiety. However, make sure to choose an essential oil product made for pets. Some oils are dangerous for dogs or cats.

There are also supplements that contain calming ingredients. You can give your pet one of these right before you leave. Be sure to note whether the product is made for dogs or cats; these should not be used interchangeably.

What Else Can You Do To Help a Pet With Separation Anxiety?

Dogs and cats are creatures of habit, and disruptions to their routine can be upsetting and lead to separation anxiety. Whenever possible, it is best to gradually ease your pet into a new routine. When establishing a new routine, consider exercising your pet with a long walk on a leash or a vigorous play session with a cat teaser before you leave the house. The objective is to tire your pet out so that he lies down as soon as you leave and sleeps until you get back.

When you give your pet something to occupy her mind while you are gone, it can distract her from the anxiety that your absence can cause. Before you leave, give your pet a special puzzle toy loaded with treats. Only let your pet play with this toy while you are gone; take it away when you get home. This helps your pet associate your departure with something positive.

Some research indicates that swaddling a pet to provide constant, gentle pressure on his skin can help him to feel more secure, and therefore less anxious. Outfitting your pet in a special compression shirt may help to ease separation anxiety symptoms.

While you're happy to see your pet when you get home, an enthusiastic, affectionate greeting from you may reinforce your pet's unwanted behavior. Without meaning to, you may actually be encouraging your pet's separation anxiety. Instead, don't respond to your pet at all for the first few minutes after you get home. When you do greet your pet, keep it low key.

Separation anxiety in a pet can be hard on everyone in your household. However, with compassion, patience, and persistence, you can help your pet ease her fear and develop confidence.