Pet care: Separation anxiety needs modern treatment for success
A recently published study established what veterinary behaviorists have long understood about separation anxiety: Physical discomfort is often a major factor. Inflammation of the stomach or intestines and joint pain can lurk beneath the surface. Eating nonfood items, licking surfaces or the air or even lip-licking are symptoms of chronic nausea. Infected teeth and gums, smoldering ear infections and itching skin frequently contribute to freak-outs when a dog is home alone. If we want the best results, we can鈥檛 afford to miss anything.
Your boy isn鈥檛 just lonesome for companionship; it鈥檚 about his skyrocketing anxiety when he鈥檚 separated from you. Adding another pet might ignite a strong friendship but would be very unlikely to prevent your little guy from losing his mind when you鈥檙e away, unless the new dog looks just like you, but hairy all over and walking on all fours. I鈥檓 not seeing it.
There are alternative treatments. The Calmer Canine delivers microcurrents of targeted pulsed electromagnetic field signals to the brain鈥檚 fear center. It鈥檚 helped some of my cases but it works best when used alongside the right meds.
How about CBD? For dogs with arthritic pain it鈥檚 been added to medications like carprofen with some benefit.
People with day-to-day anxiety have felt better with CBD but pets don鈥檛 appear to get as much relief. If you鈥檇 like to try it, I recommend the ElleVet brand. It鈥檚 supported by robust research and it鈥檚 safe with antianxiety prescription medications.
Supplements like valerian (Rescue Remedy), L-tryptophan, alpha-casozepine, L-theanine, and CBD have only made the difference for dogs with separation anxiety that is so mild that, without video monitoring, it would never have been recognized. Carefully chosen medications, along with research-based behavior modification, will be the only path to success.
Separation anxiety is never cured; even with resounding improvement, the wheels can fall off. Sadly, some pets have been relinquished to shelters, their people believing they鈥檇 be better off in a different home. Please don鈥檛 take that path; your Shih Tzu鈥檚 best shot is with you. He鈥檚 strongly bonded. Losing you would inflict serious damage. Go to my website, drjeffnichol.com, click the Videos tab and type 鈥渟eparation anxiety鈥� into the search bar.
鈥� For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference at drjeffnichol.com.
Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist in Albuquerque. He provides consultations by Zoom Group and individually/in-person. Sign up for a Zoom group on his website (drjeffnichol.com), where you can also post questions or write to 4000 Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109.
