Separation anxiety is a behavioral problem that manifests when dogs or cats are left alone by or separated from their parents. It is the second most common behavioral issue for dogs, and although not frequently discussed, it can also affect cats.

Separation anxiety affects well-being, negatively impacting both their emotional and physical health, and may also disrupt the human-animal bond.

Common Signs of Separation Anxiety

Behaviors that are associated with separation anxiety in dogs are: 

• Chewing, digging, and destructive behavior
  
  
• Excessive barking and howling
  
  
• Urinating and defecating inside the house or in uncommon places
  
  
• Escaping
  
  
• Pacing

On the other hand, cats can manifest the following signs:

• Excessive meowing and moaning
  
  
• Not eating and drinking during the pet parent’s absence
  
  
• Urination in uncommon places
  
  
• Excessive self-grooming
  
  
• Destructive behavior
  
  
• Vomiting

Gentle Strategies to Manage Separation Anxiety​

First, it’s very important to rule out other behavioral and non-behavioral conditions that can show similar behavioral signs as separation anxiety. Many different health disorders can present similar symptoms.

If your trusted vet states that your little one experiences separation anxiety, it’s essential to seek a certified animal behavior specialist to address the situation appropriately.

Strategies to help furry friends with separation anxiety must be respectful, gentle, gradual, and free of fear. While the therapeutic approach may differ in some respects between dogs and cats, the following are general aspects of these strategies:

Create a safe, enriched environment

Everything must start always from the basics. It’s crucial to make sure that you meet all your pet’s basic needs, like balanced nutrition, social interactions, exercise and play, training, and elimination. It’s also important to develop an area where they know they can rest, relax, and sleep without worrying, in order to create a safe space where they can stay while you’re absent.

Establish a predictable routine

Making the day more predictable can help them reduce anxiety since they can predict what will happen and be mentally prepared for that. Ideally, all their activities must be included in the routine, like feeding, eliminating, exercising, playing, and napping. In a more advanced phase, activities, when they don’t expect attention (like napping or playing with their toys), should be scheduled to be done at times when you usually leave home.

Desensitization

This is a slow, complex process that requires the guidance of a specialist. It consists of gradually exposing a pet to the stimulus that makes them anxious (pet parent’s absence) but in a way that will not allow the pet to feel anxious. This process uses progressive techniques like eliminating the pet’s reactions to pre-departure cues, doing out-of-sight exercises, incorporating short absences, and gradually increasing the length.

Training Techniques for Calming Pets

There are training techniques that can help reduce anxiety

There are training techniques that can help reduce anxiety, and these should be implemented using the pet’s most desirable rewards. In these cases, pet parents should reinforce desired behaviors like settling down, independence, relaxation, and being calm during departure and returning home. Training on how to settle down is also helpful, as it can facilitate the implementation of more complex strategies.

Reinforcing desired behavior is important, but it is equally crucial to avoid reinforcing behaviors that reflect dependence or anxiety, such as demanding attention or following. If a pet is seeking attention, the pet parent should ignore the behavior and wait until the pet calms down. Once the pet has settled, and enough time has passed, reward them with attention or another desired reward, like a healthy treat.

NHV Supplements for Emotional Support​

At NHV we care about your little one’s health from a holistic approach, as we know that health is not only about physical aspects, but also mental and emotional ones. Separation anxiety and other behavioral issues can be as challenging as other physical conditions, and they should not be taken lightly as they are a fundamental part of health.

Lesstress and Matricalm are the supplements we offer our customers for a natural, gentle option to support their little one’s stress management. These supplements can be helpful not only for behavioral issues but also for nervous system conditions.

Lesstress is a great supplement to support doggies with anxiety, either caused by separation or other triggering factors like fireworks, moving, and car sickness. It can also help reduce hyperactivity, excitability, and destructive behavior, and balance the immune system.

Matricalm, best suited for kitties, may help reduce anxiety, stress, hyperactivity, aggressive behavior, and excitability. It’s a great option for stressful situations like moving, adding new members to the family, or other changes in their routine. Cats are very sensitive to environmental factors and taking care of their mental health is key to promoting healthy life.