Separation Anxiety in Your Pets

Just like youngsters, your pets can experience separation anxiety. Separation anxiety in pets is more prevalent than you may well think, happening in roughly 10%-15% of pets. Both dogs and cats are in the power of the condition.

What's separation anxiety?

When a pet has separation anxiety, they demonstrate signals of stress from a fear of being away from their owner. They may display it in any amount of ways. Whining and screaming during the day, scratching at windows and destroying items in the home. Your may even notice that your housetrained pet may be relieving themselves inside when you are gone. These signals of stress are not healthy for them and can be tragic to your place.

Reasons for Separation Anxiety

There may be lots of reasons that may trigger separation anxiousness in pets. Some examples are:

Prior desertion or Abuse - Being deserted or abused by a previous owner. If you bought them from an animal shelter it is really important to understand your dog's history.

Change of Schedule - spending more time off from home and your pets may lead to separation stress. If your roles all of a sudden required you to spend more hours at work, or when your kids return to university are one or two illustrations.

Change of Possession - Dogs which have been passed from home to home.

Signals of Separation Anxiety

When identifying separation foreboding, there are a few signs to take a look for. A couple of them are far more common than others, examples are:

Recurring following of owner or companion animal.

Over the top greetings when you come back home from work or running errands.

Hiding and sulking when the owner is ready to depart.

Obstructing of door as owners try and go.

Urinating or defecating in the house when they're left alone (for house-trained pets).

Unbecoming chewing or scratching of items in the house.

Incapability to eat till the owner returns.

Excessive grooming, especially in cats, causing bald spots (rare).

Digging and scratching all of your windows and doors when you are not at home.

How are you able to help your pet?

Say short goodbyes to your dog every day.

Leave something behind that smells like you. A shirt or old pair of trainers.

Provide safe entertainment like strong gnaw toys and bones. Be certain to select toys and bones that are safe and sturdy. Some shouldn't be left without supervision.

Constrict your pet to a smaller area. Some dogs feel safer in smaller areas.

Teach your dog to be tranquil. It clearly isn't coming natural to him. When you see your dog getting excited ask him to sit. Wait a touch and then give the dog a treat to re-enforce good behaviour.

Leave a radio or a TV on when your pet is left alone in the house.

When leaving or returning to the house, leave a ten-minute opening where you don't pay any attention to your pet.

Consider a calming supplement or stress wrap.

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Mike is an avid pet lover, has 2 dogs and writes about pet care and pet supplies. http://www.kvsupply.com