Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Separation anxiety in dogs is common; however, it is a very serious matter. The separation anxiety is your dog’s panicked response to being left alone and its devastating results include the destruction of your precious belongings and the deterioration of your dog’s physical and mental health.

Separation anxiety in the dogs is quite different from misbehavior of dogs. If your dog digs up your orchids or urinates on your favourite rug, you might think that he is seeking revenge for having been left home alone which is a misconception. The best explanation for this behaviour of your dog is that he is bored, and the worst is that he is in a state of serious panic. Separation anxiety in your dog may include one or more of the following behaviours:

• Howling, constant barking, or whining
• Destructive behaviours like chewing furniture or pillows, or relentless scratching at windows and doors
• Urinating or defecating indoors
• Intense, persistent pacing
• Other physiological responses like excessive panting and dilated pupils

How to treat separation anxiety:

For treating separation anxiety, a veterinary doctor may prescribe drugs. For example, Reconcile is one such drug that is new in market and it is based on Prozac. In addition to this, Desensitization is most often used to treat separation anxiety, however, it is strongly recommended to seek help from a pet behaviourist if you think desensitization is your best treatment option. To bring symptoms under control, it usually takes 8 weeks or less and in rare cases it may be much longer.