Canine separation anxiety occurs when you have a dog that does not like being left alone for long periods of time. Technically speaking, it is a neurological distress response exhibited by some dogs when they are separated from the person or people to whom they are most attached. Some experts estimate that as many as 14% of all canine veterinary patients exhibit signs of separation anxiety to some degree. Some of these responses are very mild, but others can be rather severe.
Very young or very old dogs are most likely to display signs of canine separation anxiety. This may be because younger and older dogs are more reliant on their human companions than dogs in their middle years. Most dogs in their middle years do not display this problem, unless they have a recurrence of it from a younger age. This is, of course, not to say that middle-aged dogs cannot suffer from canine separation anxiety, but it less likely to occur then than earlier or later.
Canine separation anxiety may be exhibited by one or more of the following signs:
- Distress vocalization
- Destructive behavior
- Hyper-attachment
- Inappropriate elimination
- Excessive salivation
- Lack of appetite
- Inactivity or lethargy
- Attempts to escape confinement
- Psychosomatic disorders (e.g., vomiting, bloody stools, excessive licking sufficient to cause bald patches, etc.)
The severity of these signs can range from mild to severe, and most show themselves most often very soon after the dog is left alone. This factor can be helpful in determining which behaviors are due to separation anxiety. For example, destructive behavior that occurs when a dog is left for only a very short period of time may be due to separation anxiety, whereas similar behavior that only occurs after a long period may be due to boredom.
A too early or a traumatic separation from their mother or from human companions can be one of the chief causes of canine separation anxiety. This is often the case with dogs that are abandoned at animal shelters or thrown out as strays. Several other factors can contribute to this problem as well. Major changes in daily routines, such as a move, new baby, or other significant change can trigger canine separation anxiety, as well.
Treatments for canine separation anxiety can vary depending on the severity of the problem. For many dogs, increased training can help to improve the dog's independence, which is usually sufficient to reduce or eliminate the problem. Some dogs get very excited by the departure or return routines of their human companions. By toning these down and turning them into non-events, some canine separation anxiety may be minimized or eliminated.
Some dogs require gradual desensitization regarding the departure of their human companions. Introducing some sort of novel
