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Identification and Management of Separation Anxiety in Dogs
K.R. Gaughan
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Introduction
Separation anxiety (SA) is a common behavior disorder that affects dogs of any age, breed or sex. Dogs with SA become distressed when isolated from their owner or primary attachment figure. («Owner» and «primary attachment figure» are used interchangeably through the text of these notes.) Many of the affected dogs are orphaned, hand-raised or adopted from a shelter or rescue. In some dogs, symptoms of SA may be transient (present for only 3 – 4 months) without treatment; however, most cases require behavior modification and pharmacologic intervention for improvement to occur.
Clinical signs
The four most common manifestations of SA include one or a combination of the following in the owner’s absence: **
- Vocalization
- Destruction
- Hypersalivation (xxcessive drooling)
- Elimination (urine and/ or feces)
Other symptoms may include inappetance, depression, stress colitis, aggression or stereotypical behaviors.
**A dog diagnosed with SA exclusively will not exhibit these behaviors in the presence of the owner. Dogs with SA may also have other behavioral disorders that may complicate SA; therefore, it is important to investigate all behaviors exhibited by the dog.
Diagnosis and history
A thorough history is the single most important diagnostic tool for establishing a diagnosis of SA. Ask the owner to detail a typical 24-hour day including the activities of each household member as well as the dog’s activities and responses. Video or audio recordings of the «home alone» dog are often necessary to diagnose SA and determine severity. A dog with SA is likely to be a «Velcro» dog when the primary attachment figure is home and often will exhibit extreme excitement upon the owner’s return home. Some owners think these behaviors are cute and fail to mention these behaviors because they do not perceive either behavior as a problem. Additionally, dogs with SA often suffer from noise phobia; likewise, dogs with noise phobias may also have concurrent SA. It is imperative to ask detailed questions regarding the dog’s reaction to loud noises such as thunderstorms and fireworks because failure to address associated noise phobias may prevent successful treatment of SA.
Rule outs
Alternative causes of clinical signs, both medical and behavioral, must be ruled out before a diagnosis of SA can be made. Lack of housetraining, fear, generalized anxiety and lack of physical and/or mental stimulation are other behavior problems to consider, while diseases of the CNS, urinary tract, endocrine, hepatic and gastrointestinal systems are potential medical causes.
Behavior modification and techniques
How do we help these dogs and their owners? Behavior modification is necessary for all dogs with SA. All but mild cases of SA will also require pharmacological intervention. Behavior modification requires willingness, cooperation and patience among all persons in the dog’s home. Our goal is to: 1) reduce the dog’s anxiety associated with the owner’s departure and absence; and 2) teach the dog to be independent.
Behavior modification techniques may include the following: [...]
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