Pet care: Your dog's separation anxiety can improve
Those videos of your sweet dog, home alone and suffering with separation anxiety, have proven beyond a reasonable doubt that it is he who has desecrated your home and not some lurking poltergeist. Step number one: lose the crate. With only the rarest of exceptions, confinement with no hope of escape adds intense panic to an already overwhelmed pupster. Your Shih Tzu鈥檚 prodigious production of saliva and for many other caged dogs, urine and feces, are clear signs of a nervous system gone off the rails.
Treatment begins by never again allowing your little guy to inflict damage. You must prevent his freak-outs at any cost because, with repetition, his brain would undergo physical changes that would foster more of the same. Until he鈥檚 ready, and it may take a while, he should never be by himself. He can frolic and cavort with others of his ilk at a good doggy daycare like K9 Resort. In-home pet sitting services are another good option. Or maybe a stay-at-home friend will host play dates. Some dogs with severe separation anxiety do fine in their person鈥檚 parked car, but that鈥檚 off the table in summer.
Nearly all wigged-out dogs can improve and stay home alone for a few hours or even all day 鈥� if their anxiety is controlled. Safe medications, without side effects, are essential. Reconcile (fluoxetine) is approved for dogs, it鈥檚 chewable, and given once daily. Cheaper generics are best avoided because they are poorly absorbed by many dogs.
Your preparations to leave home are no secret to your Nervous Nellie; his anxiety ramps up at the first hint that you might 鈥� OMG! 鈥� walk out the door. Any response at these times, even a glance, would validate his fear. Just like the leader of a free-living canine group, you must completely ignore as you get ready to leave, as you exit your house, and when you return. Your excursions into the wide world must become non-events.
Withhold your dog鈥檚 meal until you鈥檙e ready to get ready. Then put his furry self in another room with a food-dispensing toy like a Twist 鈥榥 Treat and a Furbo.
Next week: Your dog needs dog tools to survive without you.
鈥� For help with behavior problems, you can sign up for a Zoom group conference at .
Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist in Albuquerque. He provides consultations by Zoom group and individually/in-person. Sign up for his weekly blog or post questions () or mail to 4000 Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109.
