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In cases вЂњwhere the separation anxiety is so severe that the animal is either doing damage to themselves or doing damage to their surroundingsвЂќ and your dog needs a crate, your veterinarian may prescribe anti-anxiety medication while you continue to try soothing techniques, says Goetz. вЂњIf theyвЂ™re objecting to being in the crate, you need to do more work before they can be left in there alone,вЂќ adds Goetz. If you try a crate, place it in a comfortable, central area of your home and slowly introduce your pet to вЂњcrate timeвЂќ before you leave him there while youвЂ™re gone. (Although it might be tempting, adopting another pet isnвЂ™t necessarily a silver bullet and can make the situation more complicated, says Hamrick.)ДЇor dogs used to noise, music (one study showed dogs prefer reggae) can help some petsвЂ™ anxiety but exacerbate othersвЂ™, so play the Bob Marley for a week, and if itвЂ™s not working, try something else, says Hamrick. If itвЂ™s in the budget, doggy daycare вЂњis fantastic for dogs with separation anxietyвЂќ but a dog walker, pet sitter or neighbor checking in midday can also help. вЂњAnything more interesting than the fact that youвЂ™re gone,вЂќ Goetz says. Tiring out your dog physically and mentally is key to reducing both boredom and anxiety, says Hamrick, so start with long walks-trying out new routes and allowing lots of sniffing-and then bring out puzzle toys, long-lasting treats (such as a stuffed, frozen Kong or a frisbee smeared with peanut butter) or other enrichment before you leave. When I adopted him seven years ago, recommended solutions included putting Jules in a crate, giving him treats when I left for the day, playing music and ignoring him when I left or returned.

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In JulesвЂ™ case, moving from a busy foster home with multiple dogs to my unfamiliar, single-pet apartment was likely part of what triggered it, says Lindsay Hamrick, a certified professional dog trainer and HSUS director of shelter outreach and engagement.

ItвЂ™s most often diagnosed in dogs and often surfaces during times of transition. Goetz explains that separation anxiety, as opposed to generalized anxiety or boredom, is unique in when it occurs (as soon as you leave) and in what way it occurs (itвЂ™s excessive, and your petвЂ™s panicked-not casually chewing on a shoe, but tearing through a crate, couch or even wall). вЂњAnimals live in the here and now вЂ¦ so when you leave, as far as they know, you could be gone forever.вЂќ

Nellie Goetz, veterinarian and Arizona state representative for the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. вЂњIn really simple terms, separation anxiety is just the fear of being left alone and the unknown that follows,вЂќ says Dr. So began my battle with his separation anxiety, a disorder that can develop when a pet is away from the human or other animal to whom sheвЂ™s most bonded, resulting in a spectrum of behaviors that can include trembling, salivating, excessive vocalization, overgrooming,В loss of bladder control, or even minor to major destruction of your home. Two-year-old Chihuahua mix Jules had spent his adoption weekend settling in to my apartment, and now I was off to work.

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