Training and Health

Separation Anxiety Syndrome in Dogs and Cats (Part 1)

admin • 08 Aug 2023

Separation anxiety disorder is a behavioral problem that affects dogs and cats. It boils down to the fear of being alone. In the absence of the owner, or less frequently, of other animals, the animal presents stress and anxiety. This is expressed as agitation, vocalizations, disruptive behavior, hyperactivity and inappropriate elimination.

Diagnosing Separation Anxiety in Dogs

Animal behavior is a complex science. Therefore, the presentation of agitation or other symptoms may be related to separation anxiety or other pathologies.

For this it is important to make a correct diagnosis of separation anxiety. In this behavioral pathology, it is common for the dog to present the following behaviors:

• Destructive behavior of objects used by the owner when isolated and mainly in entrance and exit areas of the house.

• Inadequate disposal in entrance and exit areas of the house when isolated.

• Vocalization and anxiety when the owner prepares to leave the house and during isolation.

• The animal does not tolerate being closed in the cage, destroying its contents and trying to escape.

The most obvious sign is the demonstration of anxiety only when the owner is not present. Especially in the first 30 to 60 minutes of isolation .

Through conditioning, the animal begins to associate the ritual of leaving the owner with isolation . Thus, when the owner takes the keys and wallet, the animal begins to show signs of stress . On this occasion, the dog may  block access to the door, walk non-stop, shake, salivate and whine .

In the absence of the owner, dogs become destructive , usually gnawing objects with the owner's scent and scratching doors and windows . Inadequate elimination in this case only occurs in the absence of the owner, and the dog is well trained in other situations.

Separation Anxiety Risk Factors

• Dogs adopted from the kennel have a higher incidence, perhaps due to the abandonment experience or the kennel environment;

• males;

• Multiple house moves or change in environment or routine;

• Noise phobias (eg fireworks);

• Hyperexcitable anxious animals that follow the owner around the house and cannot tolerate being in the cage.