How to deal with canine separation anxiety

'Canine separation anxiety' is not a rare kind of behavioral problem that your canine friend faces. It's prevalent in all dogs as they are social creatures and attached to humans. The extreme anxiety and restlessness shown in this situation is fully curable if proper treatment is rendered in time. But you need to know certain facts in this regard to handle this typical problem effectively.

canine separation anxiety

Causes

Although Canine Separation Anxiety is a common behavioral problem, there is no sure shot factor behind the occurrence of this disease. Different factors can lead to this problem and each dog might have a separate cause behind this behavioral problem. Thus, when a dog suffers from this disease the root cause behind it is to be investigated first to render the accurate treatment.

Some of the dogs who are brought into homes at a very tender age may exhibit this problem due to stress and trauma, which arises due to separation from their mother and littermates. At a tender age of eight to ten weeks, they are still dependent on their mothers. Hence, adopting them in that age might often often give rise to canine separation anxiety.

Another cause for the occurrence of this problem can be the extreme attachment of a dog with its master or any particular person in the dog shelter or dog creche. This strong bonding breaks suddenly which the dog is adopted and moved from its previous habitat. This might make the dog suffer from pain of desertion from this person.

Among the other factors responsible for canine separation anxiety, neurolophysiological and genetic factors also need a mention here. If a dog is left alone in the home for a prolonged period or on a regular basis, the dog can suffer from this problem.

Symptoms

Canine separation anxiety is characterized by some dominant features. These can be summarized as follows.

Act of destruction

Dogs affected with this behavioral problem become extremely destructive. The typical nature of destruction concentrates around the door through which the person attached mostly to the dog might have exited. The dogs show their destructive attitude by digging and scratching the door, chewing and trying to damage parts of the door, etc. Other areas targeted by the dog may be windows or other exit options. Some dogs focus on other things too, like clothing, shoes, other belongings, etc. of the owner too.

Act of elimination

The traumatized dog often leads to fecal and urinary elimination as a primary symptom of the disease. Urine marking of the male dog when they get detached from the owner also is a commonly noted as a popular cause behind this problem.

Hypersalivation

Hypersalivation and subsequent wetting of the dog’s face along with chest and limbs can also be detected by the other people present in the house in situations when the owner or the person attached to the dog is not present. Hypersalivation is a rare symptom which is sometimes witnessed in some dogs suffering from canine separation anxiety. This is followed by excessive consumption of water by the dog when the owner returns back. This is done to compensate for the lack of water from body.

Unusual vocalization

Dogs can express the grief of separation from their owners or their mother in the form of vocalization. This is often characterized by howling, excessive barking, whining, etc.

Other symptoms

Other than these predominant symptoms, dogs suffering from canine separation anxiety may often tend to starve and develop anorexia in absence of the owner as an attempt to counteract its stress. It might even become extremely restless and grow beyond control or suffer from deep depression.

Diagnosis

It is difficult to analyze and conclude whether a dog is suffering from canine separation disorder since it is a skilled job. So, in case if your dog behaves abnormally, it should be taken to a qualified vet. In most of the cases simple behavioral trainings cure the problem completely over the time.

Frequently asked questions

Q. How can I help my dog, which is still in its puppy-hood, get out of canine separation anxiety?

A. Try to spend more time with the dog and improve your mutual relationship by engaging in joint acts like walking, jogging, playing, etc.

Things to avoid

• Never make your dog extremely dependent upon you will make your canine friend more vulnerable to this disorder.
• Never instruct or allow anybody to beat or cane your dog if it keeps on barking too much. That way the dog will be more shocked. Handle it on your own.