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Separation Anxiety In Dogs: Does Your Dog Have It?
By doglover | January 30, 2010
Separation anxiety in dogs is a common and distressing condition but 1 which is usually successfully overcome. You may have heard the term but wondered what, exactly, is separation anxiety and how do we diagnose it in dogs?
Being left alone is 1 of the most nerve-racking ordeals a young child could undergo. Probably you are able to consider back to when you were young and were without your loved ones for a short time. The frequent response for the kid is to begin to cry. It is often a difficult experience. This terror of being in isolation isn’t exclusively felt by human beings. Dogs, specifically, will often suffer a similar psychological trauma while left alone in the home or garden.
Dogs are pack animals and, therefore, naturally sociable. A pups first attachment in life is with its mother who will feed and nurture it and, to a lower extent its father and siblings that make up its pack. After the canine family attachment is broken, the dog quickly supplants it’s loyalty and pack mentality onto it’s owner.
Exactly like a kid, each time a dog is left behind by its “pack” it could become exceptionally upset. The emotional response may manifest itself in quite a few ways. This problem is named ‘Separation Anxiety’. A few clues of separation anxiety in dogs may include the following:
• Excessive barking as well as whining when alone
• Defecation and urination inside your home.
• Chewing furniture as well as objects for instance shoes
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Over or under eating
• Aggression or depression if about to be left on it’s own
• Unusual behaviour – leaping, pacing, panting etc
There are certain breeds that show a noticeable predisposition to separation anxiety. Weimaraners, Springer Spaniels, German Shepherds, and Airedales are usually all breeds which suffer often though it has to be said that any specific breed of dog can develop separation anxiety. Veterinarians and dog breeders notice that its frequent in dogs which have been separated away from their mothers very early. In addition , it is widespread in dogs which have had many owners during early life and in dogs which have spent time inside a dog refuge. Mature dogs too can develop separation anxiety following a big change in their environment. Possibly a divorce has decimated the pack or moving house also can bring on the condition.
Having diagnosed this problem, what is usually done to sort it out? There are two courses of action to take. The course that may be the best one for you along with your pet really is determined by the severity of the problem.
An owner can work along with the dog to overcome and basically eliminate these types of anxieties through putting into action a expert as well as carefully structured behavior training course. An owner could visit a specialist in canine behaviour or, even more conveniently, find a quality dog training training course on the net to download and study.
The other alternative is to visit a veterinary surgeon and have them prescribe anti-anxiety drug treatments. This is genuinely only recommended in serious situations or wherever behaviour training has been unsuccessful. The vet will most probably prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI’s) that will alter the way the dog thinks and acts. They have got very a small amount of, mild side affects.
Whichever course of action is decided upon, it is crucial that you reach the root in the problem and get it sorted out sooner rather than later. Both dog and owner shall be happier when the anxiety is effectively overcome.
This article about was written by Edward G Foden and Barry Rodgers. There are superb dog training courses available which cover separation anxiety in dogs at www.poochdogs.com
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