When separation anxiety affects pets, it is more than just a few chewed shoes and scratched furniture. It’s a behavioural condition that can significantly affect your furry friend’s mental and physical health. When pets are overly attached to their owners, their anxiety can manifest in destructive, anxious, or even depressive behaviours whenever left alone. Naturally, as a pet owner, you’d want to reduce this anxiety as much as possible.
Below, we’ll explore the symptoms of separation anxiety in both cats and dogs, looking at its causes, and how it can impact your pet’s overall well-being. If you can manage this anxiety well, it can ensure a happier, healthier life for your pet.
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What is Separation Anxiety?
Separation anxiety can be characterised by stress and fear when they are left alone or separated from their family members. This anxiety can be an intense, panic-driven response that can disrupt normal behaviour.
Pets with separation anxiety may display an array of distress signals, such as excessive barking, destructive behaviour, going to the toilet where they shouldn’t, and even attempts to escape. While dogs are most commonly associated with this condition, with 8 out of 10 dogs finding it hard to cope alone according to the RSPCA, cats and other pets can also experience similar distress. Recognising its impact on your pet’s health and happiness is the first step towards finding effective ways to alleviate their distress.
What Are The Signs & Symptoms?
Various behaviours can signal your pet is feeling distress when left alone. Here are some of the most common:
Destructive Behaviour
Pets with separation anxiety often express their distress through destructive actions such as chewing on furniture, scratching doors and windows, or tearing up household items. This can be a panicked attempt to escape or even simply to alleviate the anxiety they are experiencing.
Excessive Vocalisation
Dogs may bark, howl, or whine excessively when left alone, which is their way of vocalising distress or attempting to alert their owners. Cats might meow or yowl frequently, indicating their discomfort.
Pacing and Restlessness
Anxious pets might pace in a fixed pattern or wander aimlessly around the home, unable to settle down. This continuous movement is a physical indicator of their internal unease. When you are indoors, you may find they consistently follow you around the house too.
Accidents Indoors
Even well-trained pets can start having accidents indoors if they suffer from separation anxiety. This can be due to the stress of feeling isolated, disrupting their normal toilet routine, especially if they are used to going outside. In cats, toileting around doors and windows can also be a defensive reaction, triggered when they feel distressed in their core territory.
Excessive Salivation or Drooling
Especially noticeable in dogs, excessive drooling can occur when they are extremely anxious and stressed.
Attempts to Escape
Some pets may scratch at doors or windows, or even attempt to chew through barriers in an effort to escape and find their owners.
Recognising these signs can help you as a pet owner begin to address the underlying anxiety and prevent further distress. Keep an eye on any abrupt changes in behaviour, especially if this is triggered by being left alone, whether leaving a room they are in or leaving the house entirely.
What Can Cause Separation Anxiety?
Often, separation anxiety in pets is not just a behavioural issue and it can stem from deeper psychological triggers.
Early Life Experiences
Pets that were separated too early from their mothers, or those that lacked stable early environments, may be more susceptible to experiencing separation anxiety.
Changes in Family Dynamics
Major life changes such as moving homes, a new member in the household, or the loss of a family member can disrupt a pet’s sense of security, leading to anxiety when alone.
Past Traumas
Experiences of abandonment or prolonged periods of isolation in shelters can leave lasting impacts, making pets more prone to anxiety when they feel they are being left alone again.
Owner Behaviour
Pets often mirror their owner’s behaviours and emotions. Overly anxious or doting pet owners can inadvertently contribute to their pet’s anxiety.
If any of these sound familiar in your pet’s behaviour or recent history, it may explain why they are experiencing symptoms of separation anxiety. One situation that many have experienced is the effect of working from home or remotely and then returning to an office full-time. As seen during the pandemic a few years ago, especially if you introduced a new pet to your home during this time, this change in daily life can be difficult for your pet to adjust to.
Impact of Separation Anxiety on Pet Health
Just like in us humans, anxiety can significantly impact both the physical and mental well-being of our pets. When left to continue, it can lead to chronic stress, which may appear in several ways:
Physical Health
Chronic stress from separation anxiety can lead to gastrointestinal issues like diarrhoea or constipation, as well as a decrease in appetite, as well as trembling or shaking.
Mental Health
The psychological strain of separation anxiety might even cause pets to become withdrawn or depressed. Over time, this can decrease their overall quality of life, leading to a lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed, such as playing or interacting with their owners.
Behavioural Issues
Persistent anxiety can exacerbate behavioural problems. Pets may become more irritable, have difficulty settling down, or show obsessive-compulsive behaviours like excessive licking or grooming.
As most pet owners will agree, you’d want to avoid this happening to your cat or dog as much as possible so that they can lead a happy, well-adjusted life. So, what can you do?
What I Can Do To Help My Pet?
You have some options to help in this situation. As well as managing this at home with a few practical tips, you may be able to get external help through your pet insurance.
Check Your Existing Policy
Depending on your existing policy, you may be able to get professional assistance when it comes to helping your pet relieve symptoms of anxiety. Some may even provide you with access to a vet through video appointments. Leading insurance provider Petsure offer cover for behavioural treatment as part of their pet insurance policies, as well as 24/7 access to a vet when you need it through FirstVet. This can be invaluable in getting a behavioural consultation quickly, so check your policy to see whether you have something similar.
Some Breeds Are More Prone To Separation Anxiety Than Others
Some breeds of cats and dogs can be more likely to develop symptoms of separation anxiety. According to Dr Jessica May writing for Petsure, dog breeds that are highly sociable and have a strong pack mentality could become more attached to their owners, such as Border Collies and Jack Russell Terriers. Also in cats, those with higher social needs and a strong desire for attention, such as the Burmese or Siamese, may also become more attached.
If you are unsure whether your pet is having symptoms when you leave, such as going to work or going out for a few hours, you may want to invest in pet cameras to help monitor their behaviour. This can be a simple way to check in on them using your phone app. If it still isn’t clear, speaking to your vet or an animal behaviourist can help come up with a plan of action to help.
Behavioural Training
If you have a new pet, gradual desensitisation techniques can be very effective. This involves slowly acclimating your cat or dog to being alone for progressively longer periods. Start with short periods of a few minutes and build up to longer. Training pets to associate alone time with positive experiences, such as toys or treats, can also help reduce anxiety.
Environmental Enrichment
Creating a safe and comforting environment as early as possible can reduce stress when your pet is alone. This might include secure spaces like a cosy crate for dogs or a window perch for cats; alongside background noise such as a radio or TV to mimic human presence. Also, ensure they have plenty of different toys and dedicated playtimes with you and other family members to help build a routine. This will help them to not become reliant on just human interaction to keep them entertained.
Help Your Pet Lead A Happier, Calmer Life
Whether through behavioural training, environmental adjustments, or seeking professional advice, caring for a pet with separation anxiety is manageable. Remember, early intervention is key to helping your beloved companion thrive, ensuring they can lead a happy, anxiety-free life. For more help and advice, you can visit the RSPCA to find a clinical animal behaviourist who can ensure your pet gets the best possible support when they need it.
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