What Is Pet Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety, separation distress, separation-related behavior: what does any of it mean? It means your pet has a noticeable adverse reaction to being left home alone. These behaviors can be frustrating, upsetting, and costly for owners, and it’s not much better for the pets! There are ways to help your pet, so let’s walk through it together so we can all understand what they need.
Causes of Pet Separation Anxiety
Separation distress is something that researchers have looked into extensively, and they have found three areas that most indicate if an animal has or could develop separation anxiety.
Genetics and Breed Tendencies
Some genetic combinations and breeds produce increased anxiety in animals. This can be especially true if there is a genetic history from the parents of anxiety and separation-related behaviors. If you adopted your pet from a breeder, always ask questions about how the parents behaved. It’s also possible to use a DNA test for cats and dogs to determine if your pet’s breed is more prone to these specific health issues.
Past Traumatic Experiences
Like humans, pets can experience traumatic events that change their behavior. This can especially be the case for rescues, where so much of their past is unknown, or we can only make the best guesses about it.
Changes in Routine or Environment
Moving houses, changing jobs, kids leaving home, breakups—these are all huge things for humans, but we don’t often consider how they affect our pets. If our pets are used to consistency, then it is understandable why they might begin to get concerned when we leave after a big change. They don’t know how long it could be, where we’re going, or if we’re returning, and it’s all very stressful.
Signs and Symptoms of Pet Separation Anxiety
Across pets, signs are roughly consistent with a few changes. The bottom line, though, is that if they act distressed as you start to leave the home, this is a good indicator of separation distress.
Behavioral Signs
Anxious dogs may try to block you from leaving and bark excessively while you’re out. Cat anxiety shows similar signs: cats may meow a lot while you’re gone or over-groom themselves.
Physical Signs
You might leave and come home to shredded furniture, or you might find puddles of liquid (drool or pee) or even diarrhea.
Emotional Signs
While anxiety in dogs may cause them to act very clingy and excited when you come home, cats will either be excited or slink away and act as if you’ve done something wrong.
How Common Is Pet Separation Anxiety?
While it’s difficult to pin down data on the prevalence of separation anxiety in all types of pets around the world, petMD reports that it occurs in roughly 20% of dogs in the United States, and as many as 80% in European countries. According to Science Focus, one study revealed that more than 10% of cats displayed behavior issues related to separation from their owners.
Immediate Steps to Take When You Notice Anxiety
If you notice any changes to your pet’s behavior, it is always recommended to make an appointment with your veterinarian! They will be able to give you personalized advice, and they may also be open to advising you on medicinal and holistic aids. After that, look in your area for a behaviorist or trainer specializing in separation-related behaviors. To help ease your pet’s anxiety at home, here are some simple adjustments you can make:
Creating a Safe Space
Giving your pet a place to feel safe can help them feel more secure when you leave the house. You might consider crate training your dog and leaving the crate open while you are out. If you have a cat, giving them an enclosed space to hide in can be helpful, although some cats may want to hide in spaces that are high up.
Providing Comfort Items
Blankets, toys, and things that smell like them can give your pets a sense of security and ownership within their space while you’re out of the house.
Establishing a Departure Routine
Consistency is KING when it comes to separation treatment. If you keep to the same routine when leaving the house, you are giving your pet an early warning that says, “We are going to leave the house now,” and your pet can prepare themselves.
Training Techniques to Reduce Anxiety
Training is a great tool to help shape your pet’s behavior. Yes, even for cats, cat separation anxiety can be helped by training.
Desensitization and Counterconditioning
This is the standard of behaviorists who work with animals with separation distress. In psychology, desensitization boils down to helping people (or animals) not react to something they’ve learned to respond to, aka they’ve become sensitized. If you’ve ever become afraid of something after a bad experience, you have been sensitized! Counterconditioning is like redirecting behavior. If you’re afraid of bugs, a therapist might counter-condition you, so you start by looking at pictures of bugs, then move on to a toy bug, then a real bug! We can do this with our pets, too, but it takes effort.
Gradual Departure Training
Gradual Departure Training is a form of desensitization and counterconditioning specifically used to help animals with separation-related behavior. Each round of training involves you and everyone in the house practicing leaving the house, including putting on shoes and picking up keys.
Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement means encouraging a behavior you want by adding (that’s the positive bit) something the pet likes (that’s the reinforcement). Some trainers might suggest using this by giving your pet a treat if they are calm when you come home or giving them treats while you’re out. While this can make sense, some animals may look peaceful and be internally panicking. It can be helpful if used well, though!
Conclusion
Separation distress is frustrating but can be overcome with dedication and time–don’t give up! You aren’t alone. Make sure you have a good support network and a good trainer. Good luck!
