One of the most common behavior problems I am asked about in dogs is separation anxiety. The symptoms vary widely and can include mild anxiety, house soiling, damage to the home and even self-trauma. Untreated, the problem can escalate and even be a cause for an owner to surrender their dog to a shelter.

What is separation anxiety?

Dogs are pack animals so being alone can trigger anxiety. Separation anxiety-driven behaviors will occur shortly after the owner has left and usually involve some type of ‘escape attempt’ around doors or windows, resulting in destruction caused by chewing, clawing, or digging. Less affected dogs may only pant excessively, pace or whine. House soiling occurs shortly after the owner leaves and should not be confused with house soiling that occurs from being left for long periods of time. Many dogs with separation anxiety will also have noise phobias and can demonstrate similar destructive behaviors with thunder or fireworks.

What causes separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety can occur anytime and at any age. It tends to start after a stressful event, like a move to a new home, or after a change in the owner’s schedule. This is one of the reasons I see this problem so often with the dogs of military families, given their frequent moves and deployments. I also often see the problem with dogs adopted from shelters. These dogs have experienced abandonment by their previous family and are therefore already emotionally vulnerable. Dogs in single person households are more than twice as likely to suffer from separation anxiety. Sometimes, though, there are no known triggers.

Can separation anxiety be treated?

Separation anxiety cannot be cured, but it can be successfully managed using a combination of behavior modification and medication. The behavior modification involves both you and your dog. The goal of medication is to reduce anxiety levels while you put behavior modification techniques in place. Like any behavior change, it will take one to two months of consistent efforts to rewire your dog’s anxiety responses.

What can you do?

• Never punish your dog if you come home to a mess. This only adds to their anxiety and will not prevent them from doing it again.

• Figure out what cues your dog perceives that indicate you are leaving (picking up your keys, packing your lunch, etc.). Try doing these things without leaving, then reward your dog. Try doing your departure routine, then leave for a few minutes and return. Praise good behavior and slowly increase the amount of time you are away.

• Enrich your dog’s environment. Try an interactive toy, like a Kong filled with treats or peanut butter.

• Downplay your comings and goings. Try to be unemotional when you are leaving. Try to be aloof when you come home. It can be hard to resist your dog’s excitement when you return, but try to ignore them until the excitement passes, then lavish them with praise.

• Spend more time with your pet. Make sure you are providing them with regular exercise. Create a day-to-day routine and try to stick to it.

• Crating a dog that has never been crated and has separation anxiety can be tricky, but done right it can help in some occasions. Sometimes being confined can make the problem worse. Go slowly in introducing your dog to a crate. Feed them in the crate, keep their toy in it, and have the crate out in the area of the house where you spend most of your time. Close the door with the dog in the crate when you are home with them, and gradually increase the amount of time they stay in it. As always, praise them for good behavior. Remember, you always get the behavior you reward.

Think of your veterinarian as your dog’s psychiatrist. They are trained in behavior problems, and can prescribe medications to help manage those problems. Medication alone is not the answer, but it can provide a valuable tool to help your dog to achieve a better quality of life.

Note: I wanted to thank everyone who donated to our holiday food drive on behalf of WAIF. With your help we collected 368 pounds of food for the homeless animals of our community.

Dr. Kiel is the U.S. Army veterinarian currently supporting NAS Whidbey Island and Naval Station Everett. His columns appear the first and third Friday of each month. Please send questions or comments to Dr. Kiel at joseph.kiel@navy.mil.