How to deal with pet separation anxiety post-COVID work-from-home habit

How to deal with pet separation anxiety post-COVID work-from-home habit

Separation anxiety is the anxiety seen when a normally calm and confident pet becomes super-stressed when left alone. Though more common in dogs, it is also seen in cats.

Symptoms of separation anxiety in dogs can range from barking and howling, accidents in inappropriate places, and trembling to more dangerous things such as escaping the house, damaging property, or injuring themselves in a panic. 

In cats, symptoms are much more subtle and may be missed as they often hide anxiety from their pet parents. You may see eating very rapidly or not at all, vomiting, signs of excessive grooming (usually seen as hair loss with no lesions on the abdomen), or eliminating outside of the litterbox.

But as more and more people return to the office after a couple of years at home, all pets can become anxious as we all acclimate to a new (old?) routine. If you’re worried that your pet will suffer from separation anxiety, there are steps you can start taking before you commute.

Environmental Changes

Many pets benefit from a “safe space.” Meaning an area of the home that is theirs alone. For dogs, this is often a crate or a small bathroom. Cats often choose under beds or somewhere high, such as on top of the kitchen cabinets.

 Wherever they choose, make sure it is comfortable, with a favorite toy, a soft bed, or another favorite item. And make sure it is theirs alone. No kids messing it up, no temporary storage, and no restricting access to it, particularly when you won’t be home.

Another often overlooked environmental factor is noise level. When you’re home, you may be talking, watching tv, listening to music, etc. When you leave, does all that stop? Consider leaving the volume the same. Be that pet parent that leaves the TV on for your dog! They’ll appreciate the normalcy when you aren’t around.

Training and Behavior Modification

  • Eliminate punishment for anxious actions. They already feel bad that they had an accident. Yelling at them about it won’t make it better.
  • Ignore your pet when you get back. Coming home isn’t some tremendous event. Come home calm, set your stuff down, and take off your shoes. Once your pet is relaxed and you’re ready, you can greet them calmly.
  • Practice leaving. Grab everything you usually take with you. Say a calm goodbye. Leave, lock the door, unlock the door, and come back in. Extend your time behind the door the next time.
  • Consider counterconditioning. If you notice your pet starts getting anxious (pacing, crying, getting clingy) after a specific action (such as picking up your keys), start associating that action with positive events. For example, pick up your keys and give them a treat, super excited praise, or a good scratch on their favorite spot. Every time.
  • Practice separation while you’re home. Grab a mat and have your pet sit on it. Reward them when they do this calmly. Gradually increase the distance between yourself and the mat, continuing to praise them when they are calm. This will likely be much more effective with dogs.
  • Ensure that your pet gets plenty of exercise. Just like people, exercise is a powerful anxiety management technique.

Supplements

It is important to note that research on supplements for anxiety in pets is minimal. However, some products have anecdotal success.

  • Alpha-casozepine – works best when used for anxiety over the long-term, such as separation anxiety. Doesn’t appear effective for other forms of anxiety, such as giving it prior to a thunderstorm.
  • Chamomile – we don’t have good studies in dogs, but anecdotal evidence suggests that it helps and is safe.
  • Kava Kava – this is a mild sedative and should only be used short-term
  • L-theanine – this amino acid is thought to increase dopamine levels in the brain, calming your pet.
  • CBD – again, anecdotal evidence indicates this works well for both pain and anxiety, but there aren’t any studies to prove efficacy.
  • Melatonin – this acts as a sedative as well and may cause digestive upset in some pets
  • Probiotics – similar to people, the gut-brain connection appears to have quite the influence on feelings of anxiety. This approach may take some time to see any benefits.

Speak with your vet before starting any supplements.

Pheromone Therapy

Pheromone options exist for both cats and dogs. These products generally work well, but they take some time.

Because of this, opt for plug-in products that diffuse pheromones throughout the house. You won’t smell them, but they will calm your pet. Just make sure to replace the cartridges according to their directions. Another common mistake with these is not buying enough to cover the area of your home.

Spray pheromone products could be helpful in situations where your pet travels, such as using in their crate to go to the vet but aren’t continuous enough to provide relief all day long.

Other Methods

  • Lavender-scented collars
  • Anxiety or compression wraps – these work similar to weighted blankets for people
  • Calmer Canine device -  a device worn for 15 minutes twice a day for 4-6 weeks to treat separation anxiety

Important

When severe, separation anxiety can cause injuries to the pet and extensive damage to the home. Consult your vet if behaviors escalate or do not improve in a reasonable amount of time.

They may be able to prescribe medications that can help your pet respond better to behavior and environmental modifications. Additionally, a vet can refer to a veterinary behavior specialist (not a dog trainer) if needed.

Conclusion

Separation anxiety is a huge stressor for both you and your pet. Thankfully, there are many options to ease both of your suffering.   Not all methods work for all pets, but most of them take some time. Try to pick 1 or 2 techniques and stick to them for several weeks, rather than jumping from idea to idea.

Recovery from post-COVID separation anxiety takes patience and consistency but will be worth it for a happy pet and a strong pet–parent relationship.  

Sources

https://iaabcjournal.org/literature-review-behavior-modification-canine-separation-anxiety/

https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/behavior/on-your-best-behavior-canine-separation-anxiety/

https://assisianimalhealth.com/library/supplements-and-dog-anxiety/

https://www.veterinarians.org/anxiety-supplements-for-dogs/#What_Supplements_Help_Dog_Anxiety

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