What is Pet Separation Anxiety? Signs and Treatments

As a pet parent, you want the best for your fur baby. You want them to be healthy – physically and emotionally.

This information will help you understand the signs of separation anxiety in dogs and cats and how to help your pet overcome this anxiety.

Anxiety is normal

• Like humans, dogs and cats can experience anxiety for many reasons such as when left alone, in a new environment or when meeting another animal
• Anxiety occurs due to the perception that the stimulus is threatening
• When responding to something that is considered a threat, animals flee, fight, freeze or fidget – depending on the threat

What is separation anxiety?

• Separation anxiety describes animals that become distressed when they are left alone
• It occurs in pets that have over-bonded with or are highly dependent on their pet parents
• Animals may become distressed when their owner is preparing to leave, a particular person leaves, or even if they are just in another room
• Some animals are more anxious with specific types of departures like their pet parent leaving for work

Separation anxiety can be complicated

Why does separation anxiety occur?

Any animal can develop separation anxiety – even big and tough dogs – but there are a number of factors or events that may trigger separation anxiety in your pet:

 

• Anxious personality type
• Constant engagement from the owner (e.g. carrying pet around, always taking them to work or on social outings) which reinforces a strong attachment
• Lack of alternate stimulation to the owner (e.g. not enough toys and fewer chances for independent play)
• Changes in your routine including moving house, a new work schedule or a new baby
• Feelings of abandonment like being taken to a kennel
• Death of another pet or family member
• Emotional or fussy departures and returns
• A frightening or negative experience when left home alone

It’s important to recognise that separation anxiety can develop at any age – not just in puppies and kittens getting used to being left alone. Not uncommonly, separation anxiety manifests in senior pets experiencing cognitive decline, or dementia.

Signs of separation anxiety in dogs

Dogs are highly social animals that like to live in groups, so it’s natural that they may not like being alone.

When your dog is alone:

• Drooling, pacing, whining and constant barking or howling
• Indoor urinating or defecating
• Refusing to eat or leaving chew treats (like pig’s ears) intact then eating ravenously when you return
• Being destructive, hyperactive or attempting to escape (e.g. scratching at doors) – in severe cases, they may damage their paws, teeth or mouth

These behaviours normally occur within 20 minutes of you leaving the house.

When you are at home:

• Following you around from room to room
• Seeking lots of physical contact and attention
• Becoming quiet and withdrawn as you prepare to leave

Signs of separation anxiety in cats

Cats are generally considered to be more solitary and independent compared to dogs, but they are actually very social and form strong attachments to their owners.

Signs a cat may be feeling anxious about being alone:

• Avoiding eye contact
• Staying low when moving
• Moving away or hiding
• Urinating or defecating outside their litter tray and spraying urine around the house
• Excessive meowing
• Excessive grooming
• Refusing to eat while alone and eating ravenously when you return

These signs can be subtle, so it is important to observe your cat closely and note any unusual behaviour associated with you leaving or being away.

Treating your pet’s anxiety

Dealing with separation anxiety will require time and patience but with a bit of hard work and a behaviour modification plan, you can help your pet to better cope with your absence.

What is the trigger?

It’s important to identify what the trigger is for the separation anxiety. This will help with modifying the behaviour and dealing with their anxiety.

• Do you follow the same routine every day?
• Is your pet under stimulated?

Separation anxiety can be multifaceted, as is the approach to treatment. A behavioural specialist is the best person to help you identify possible triggers of separation anxiety, and identify methods for behavioural modification to make your pet more comfortable – ask your vet for advice.

Treating anxiety is a gradual process

Initially minimise the amount of time your pet spends alone and gradually build on this time – a dog walker or friend may be able to help break up the day.

• When home, occasionally separate your pet from you – e.g. in another room with their favourite chew toy
• Intermittently reward quiet behaviour and independent play – this way your pet will learn that being alone and settled gets your attention and will help them learn to tolerate their time alone
• Modify your routine so that you’re not giving your pet the ‘heads up’ that you are leaving
• Desensitise your pet to the key things that mean you are leaving – close up the house, grab your work gear but then stay home!