We know when we leave our pets for work or errands, they miss us. It’s adorable to come home and have your little furball run up to you, beg for attention, and even become vocal as they bark or meow to tell us how happy they are to have us back at home. But for some pets, our leaving the house is not just an inconvenience, but a terror-inducing occurrence. This is caused by separation anxiety. 

How Do I Identify Separation Anxiety In My Pet?

If your pet exhibits any of the following symptoms while you’re away from them on a regular basis, the cause is probably separation anxiety.

Separation Anxiety in Dogs – Dogs may bark, whine constantly, pace back and forth, drool excessively, start shaking, urinate or defecate inside the house. Some may develop compulsive behaviors, such as leg or tail chewing. The most destructive conduct will involve destroying furniture, or injuring themselves trying to break out of a crate.

Separation Anxiety in Cats – Cats will often urinate outside the litter box, pace, meow, yowl, refuse to eat, or even pull their hair out. More destructive behavior includes pushing objects off countertops or tearing up furniture or toys.

How Do I Treat Separation Anxiety In My Pet?

Some pets can get over their separation anxieties without serious intervention. It takes patience, though! Try these steps to help your pets, and stay on each step for as long as possible before proceeding to the next step.

  • From inside your home, open the front door and then close it without walking through.
  • Open the door, walk through, close the door, and immediately come back in. Gradually increase the time before coming back in until your pet tolerates your absence for 10 minutes, 30 minutes, two hours, three hours, etc.

It’s also a good idea to leave on the TV or radio to comfort your pet while you’re away from home. YouTube also has plenty of channels specifically made for cats and dogs. Watch with them while you’re at home before leaving this on while you’re away. Some pets can’t resist the squirrels inside the TV and can end up knocking your TV over!

You can also try crating your pet, using puzzle feeders, and increasing their physical exercise.

If you’ve tried everything and your pet is still suffering from anxiety, contact our vets for medication that will ease their suffering. At PetWow, we specialize in treating pets in pain. In fact, we are so good at what we do that more than 30,000 area pet owners trust their pets’ health with our team of professionals. Give us a call at 513-738-9691 or email us at [email protected] with your questions or to schedule an appointment. For more pet care tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest or LinkedIn!